plate no. 9001

Cedric Morris

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureparrotclothingbackgroundanimal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through layering and subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering textures and patterns.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, parrot, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying thin washes of color to the canvas.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of color, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Define the features of the face and the details of the parrot.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and background, focusing on texture and pattern.
step 06
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use viridian and ultramarine blue to create the green and blue hues of the parrot's feathers.

techniques