plate no. 9476

The Frankland Sisters

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitfigureslandscapetreesskydogportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including rendering skin tones and drapery, as well as creating atmospheric perspective in the background landscape. Students will also learn to capture the likeness and mood of the subjects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the figures, landscape, and major compositional elements.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with broad washes of color, focusing on atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the basic shapes and values of the figures, paying attention to proportions and anatomy.
step 04
Develop the skin tones using a limited palette and subtle blending techniques.
step 05
Render the drapery with attention to folds, highlights, and shadows.
step 06
Add details to the faces, including eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of the subjects.
step 07
Refine the background details, such as trees, foliage, and sky.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones using titanium white, cadmium red light, raw umber, and a touch of ivory black. Achieve atmospheric perspective in the background by adding ultramarine blue to the landscape colors.

techniques