plate no. 4286
Charles Ashdown
Leon Underwood, 1922
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with light and shadow. It also provides practice in using visible brushstrokes to create texture and interest.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the skin tones.
- step 03
Begin to refine the shapes and values of the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 04
Add details to the clothing, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 05
Refine the background, adding details to the trees and buildings.
- step 06
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing.
- step 08
Sign the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by combining white, red, and umber, adjusting the proportions to create different values. Use viridian and yellow ochre to create the green hues of the trees.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blocking in
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brush
- ·value study
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Over-blending the skin tones.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform.
- →Losing the overall sense of light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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