plate no. 6564
Blue Eyes and Brown
Tom Roberts, 1888
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and fur textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and dog.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the figure's dress and skin.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Add details to the dress, including the folds and highlights.
- step 05
Paint the dog, focusing on capturing its fur texture and facial expression.
- step 06
Add details to the background, including the wall and any decorative elements.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · alizarin crimson
Mix various shades of blue and purple for the dress. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre for the background and dog, adding white for highlights and crimson for warmth in the skin tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·fur rendering
- ·fabric depiction
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations in color.
- →Failing to capture the texture of the fur and fabric.
- →Ignoring the background and not integrating it with the foreground.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paints and improve blending.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
