plate no. 1882
The young Comtessa with an ermine scarf on New Year's Eve
Ludwig Passini, 1847
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering delicate skin tones. It also provides practice in watercolor techniques such as layering and glazing to achieve subtle color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the figure, paying attention to proportions and facial features.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the background.
- step 03
Begin layering skin tones, starting with very diluted washes of pink, yellow, and brown.
- step 04
Paint the hair with thin washes of brown and grey, building up darker values gradually.
- step 05
Apply the base color for the dress and scarf, using a mix of green and red respectively.
- step 06
Add details to the ermine scarf, using white and grey to create the illusion of fur.
- step 07
Refine the facial features, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
- step 08
Add final details such as jewelry and subtle color variations.
color palette
primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · alizarin crimson · viridian
secondary · titanium white · payne's gray
Skin tones are achieved by mixing diluted washes of raw sienna, alizarin crimson, and a touch of burnt umber. The green dress is a mix of viridian and burnt umber. The scarf is alizarin crimson lightened with white.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·wet-on-dry
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Using too much water, causing the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Making the ermine fur look flat and unrealistic.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Watercolor paper 140lb
- ·Round watercolor brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4, 6)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Pencil (HB)
- ·Eraser
- ·Paper towels
optional
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Palette knife
- ·Ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure even color distribution. Soft brushes are ideal for blending and glazing.
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