plate no. 2954

Woman, Portrait

Luke Fildes, 1900

oilAcademicismportraitportraitwomanhairclothingfacefigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

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 face, hair, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the skin, hair, and clothing, focusing on accurate color mixing.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the lace and gold patterns.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black to create shadows. Mix viridian with yellow ochre to create the green in the clothing.

techniques