plate no. 4119
Bocah
some experience helpful
This painting provides practice in capturing likeness and form using loose brushstrokes and a limited color palette. Students will develop skills in portraiture and alla prima painting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the child with light pencil lines.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of orange.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and clothing using simplified values.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, using varied brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Develop the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and harmony.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of orange by combining burnt sienna and yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue to create cooler tones for shadows and clothing.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and color.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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