plate no. 3234

Boy with a Dead Goldfinch

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitboyportraitbirdtableclothingbirdcage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and still life elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the boy's pose, the bird, and the birdcage.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, skin tones, clothing, and table.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows to create form.
step 04
Develop the details of the boy's face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the clothing, capturing the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Paint the bird, focusing on its delicate features and coloration.
step 07
Add details to the birdcage, paying attention to its structure and form.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding final details.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of burnt sienna. Darken shadows with raw umber and ivory black. Use ivory black and titanium white to create the dark background.

techniques

·portraiture
·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
→Getting the proportions of the face incorrect.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags