plate no. 2435

Alden Brooks

Roderic O'Conor, 1916

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguremanchairclothingbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex shapes and capturing a likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure's clothing and skin, focusing on value.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and values of the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the chair and background, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the edges of the forms and blend colors where necessary.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of blue and umber for the clothing and background. Create skin tones by mixing red, yellow ochre, white, and a touch of blue or umber to adjust the temperature.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Not capturing the likeness of the subject.
→Overworking the painting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags