plate no. 2693

Andrew Jackson

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)portraitportraiteagleflagcloudsfigurepatriotic

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating a balanced composition with multiple elements. It also provides practice in rendering textures like feathers and fabric.

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 composition, paying attention to the placement of the figure, eagle, and flag.
step 02
Block in the background with a warm yellow-orange wash, creating the radiating light effect.
step 03
Establish the main values of the portrait, focusing on the light and shadow areas of the face.
step 04
Paint the eagle, starting with the overall shape and then adding details like feathers and the ribbon.
step 05
Render the flag, paying attention to the stripes and the folds in the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the portrait, such as the glasses, hair, and clothing.
step 07
Refine the background clouds and add any final details.
step 08
Varnish the painting for protection and to enhance the colors.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and titanium white for the blue ribbon. Create the warm background by mixing yellow ochre and cadmium red.

techniques