plate no. 9450

A Basket of Oranges. Portrait of George Mackay Macdonald

oilRomanticismportraitfigureportraitorangesbasketarchitecturegarden

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and skin tones, as well as practicing rendering textures like fabric and woven baskets.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, including the garden and architectural details.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and features of the portrait, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 04
Refine the details of the figure's clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 05
Paint the basket of oranges, capturing the round forms and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the architectural elements, such as the columns and tiles.
step 07
Refine the background elements, adding details to the trees and foliage.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium orange · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue and brown to create the dark clothing. Use orange and yellow ochre for the oranges, and mix pinks and reds for the skin tones.

techniques