plate no. 0250

Buffalo Bull's Back Fat (Stu-mick-o-súcks) Head Chief of the Blood Tribe (Blackfoot)

oilRealismportraitportraitNative Americanfigurefeatherclothingheaddress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as practice blending and layering to achieve realistic skin tones and textures.

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 basic shapes and proportions of the figure, including the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of color, focusing on the overall tone and atmosphere.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with the darker areas and gradually adding highlights.
step 04
Paint the clothing and accessories, paying attention to the details and textures.
step 05
Add the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Refine the details and add any final touches, such as the highlights in the eyes and the details in the headdress.
step 07
Glaze the painting with a thin layer of medium to unify the colors and add depth.
step 08
Varnish the painting to protect it from dust and UV light.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix burnt umber and cadmium red for the skin tones, adding white to lighten and yellow ochre to warm. Use ivory black to create shadows and define details.

techniques