plate no. 6159

Boy with the Birdie

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitboybirdhairprofileclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and rendering soft textures. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness of a subject and creating a harmonious color palette.

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 of the boy's head, shoulders, and the bird.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with subtle layers of color, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and dimension.
step 06
Paint the bird, focusing on its shape and the contrast between its dark feathers and light markings.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · flesh tint · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · sap green

Mix flesh tones by blending white, red, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use raw umber to create shadows and define contours. Mix black and umber for the bird's feathers.

techniques