plate no. 6118
Co-ee-há-jo, a Seminole Chief
George Catlin, 1837
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in painting fabric and details like the headdress and gun.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of warm yellow and brown tones.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, clothing, and headdress with corresponding colors.
- step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Add details to the headdress, including the feathers and patterned fabric.
- step 06
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery.
- step 07
Render the gun, capturing its shape and texture.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix skin tones using burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, adjusting the ratios for highlights and shadows. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create darker shades for clothing and hair.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·rendering
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Ignoring the underlying structure of the face and figure.
- →Getting lost in details before establishing the overall composition.
- →Using too much paint, obscuring the brushwork.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before painting.
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