plate no. 8970

Colin McAlpin

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through loose brushwork and limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's proportions and placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the background, clothing, and skin tones with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the background and clothing.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, focusing on the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Refine the features of the face, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and hair, using loose brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Soften edges and blend areas as needed to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the portrait to life.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by combining white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red and yellow ochre. Use black and umber to create shadows and darker values. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·blending
·value studies
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Failing to capture the subtle value changes in the skin tones.
→Making the background too distracting from the figure.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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