plate no. 5848

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN YOE AND SON

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)portraitportraitfiguresfathersonchairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion and likeness, as well as techniques for rendering smooth skin tones and simple drapery.

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 figures and chair.
step 02
Block in the background with a mid-tone gray.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones for both figures, paying attention to subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the clothing, starting with the darkest areas of the father's coat and then the lighter areas of the son's jacket and the father's vest.
step 05
Add details to the faces, including eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of each figure.
step 06
Paint the chair, using a warm yellow-gold color.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing, including the ruffles on the son's collar and the buttons on his jacket.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red light

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. The blue jacket is cerulean blue lightened with white. The black coat is ivory black lightened with white for highlights.

techniques