plate no. 8920

Caitlin

Augustus John, 1936

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurewomancurly hairdressprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing the texture of hair with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex patterns and creating a sense of depth through tonal variations.

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 and proportions of the head, neck, and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of muted grays and browns.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a base layer of light flesh color.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to define the facial features and create form.
step 05
Paint the hair, focusing on capturing the overall shape and texture with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Block in the colors and patterns of the dress, simplifying the details.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, hair, and dress, paying attention to edges and color relationships.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · sap green

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and blue for shadows. The dress colors are created by mixing the primaries with white to create pastel shades.

techniques