plate no. 4748

Allen Kenney

oil, canvasContemporary Realismportraitportraitfigureboyclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and shirt on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of green, allowing some variation in tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, hair, and shirt, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the hair with layers of color, suggesting individual strands and highlights.
step 06
Work on the details of the shirt, accurately rendering the stripes and folds.
step 07
Refine the transitions between light and shadow on the face and clothing, creating a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the portrait to life.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. The background green is a mix of viridian green and ultramarine blue with white added for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·value study
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch can lead to a distorted likeness.
→Overworking the details too early can result in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
→Failing to accurately capture the values can flatten the form.
→Using too much paint can make the painting look muddy.