plate no. 1689

Avery Colebrook as a Boy

Edward Robert Hughes, 1908

oilRomanticismportraitportraitboyprofilehairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in subtle color blending and rendering soft textures, particularly in the hair and skin tones. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and creating a sense of depth through delicate shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the boy's profile and main features.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin, neutral tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using light washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up the hair, focusing on the overall shape and direction of the curls.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, capturing the folds and textures.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the realism of the portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt sienna, cadmium red light, and raw umber. Use yellow ochre and ivory black to create subtle variations in the hair color.

techniques