plate no. 6008
The Countess Ritzer
Giovanni Boldini, 1894
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as loose, expressive brushwork to suggest form and texture.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the oval shape and the basic proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, dress, background, and collar.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and hue.
- step 04
Develop the hair with loose, gestural brushstrokes, capturing the highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Work on the dress, using broken color and varied brushstrokes to suggest the fabric's texture.
- step 06
Define the features of the face, focusing on accurate placement and subtle shading.
- step 07
Add details to the collar and any other accessories.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring a harmonious balance of color and value.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · ivory black
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and umber, with small amounts of yellow ochre or blue for subtle variations. The background is a mix of white, umber, and blue.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Using too much detail, losing the loose, painterly quality.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and hue.
- →Not capturing the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched oval canvas
required
- ·Stretched oval canvas
- ·Oil paints
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Easel
Use a medium-sized oval canvas for this project. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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