plate no. 7988
Yelena Schepkin
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good exercise in portraiture, focusing on subtle skin tones and rendering fabric textures. Students can develop skills in blending and glazing to achieve realistic effects.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color, creating a gradient from dark to light.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, dress, and hair, paying attention to the overall value structure.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, using subtle color variations to create form and depth.
- step 05
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds, highlights, and shadows.
- step 06
Add the lace details, using a fine brush and light, delicate strokes.
- step 07
Paint the hair, creating texture and volume with varying tones and brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add final details such as the rose, jewelry, and any remaining highlights and shadows.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · raw umber
secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · cadmium yellow light
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Create the dress color by mixing white with a small amount of green and yellow. Use glazes of alizarin crimson and raw umber for shadows.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·rendering fabric
- ·creating soft edges
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details, losing the overall harmony.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and volume.
- →Not paying attention to the light source.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 or 18x24) is recommended.
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