plate no. 6593
The Countess Brownlow
Frederic Leighton, 1879
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering fabric folds and capturing subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective in the background landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's pose and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: sky, background landscape, dress, and skin tones.
- step 03
Begin refining the sky and background, paying attention to the subtle color variations and atmospheric perspective.
- step 04
Start building up the layers of the dress, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create the illusion of folds and volume.
- step 05
Carefully render the skin tones, using thin layers of paint to build up the subtle variations in color.
- step 06
Paint the flowers, paying attention to their form and color.
- step 07
Add details to the dress and background, such as the trim on the dress and the foliage in the landscape.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · alizarin crimson
Mix various shades of white with yellow ochre and burnt umber for the dress. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and add touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix cadmium red and alizarin crimson for the flowers.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
- →Using too much paint, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·turpentine
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grain canvas will provide a good surface for building up layers of paint.
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