plate no. 1027

Claude Grahame White

Arthur Pan, 1951

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfiguremansuittieclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of value to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and suit.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Mix and apply the colors for the suit, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 05
Paint the tie, carefully rendering the pattern and its interaction with light.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add the background color, ensuring it complements the subject.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and details to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. The suit is primarily black mixed with raw umber and white for highlights and shadows.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·value study
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the facial features
→Over-blending, resulting in a flat appearance
→Inaccurate skin tone mixing
→Ignoring subtle value changes

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·assorted round and flat brushes
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

optional