plate no. 8931

Susannah Edith, Lady Rawley

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguredresshairjewelryfur

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and blending to create soft transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and dress.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the lace and ribbons.
step 06
Add the fur texture using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Blend and soften the edges to create a smooth, realistic effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber for shadows. Achieve the dress's off-white color by mixing white with small amounts of yellow ochre and umber.

techniques