plate no. 6169
Conversation Piece: Three Heads
Theodule Ribot, 1872
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in value studies and capturing form with limited color palette. It also provides practice in creating expressive portraits with loose brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
5
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the three heads.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting with a thin wash of dark paint.
- step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones, paying attention to the direction of light.
- step 04
Define the facial features and details with darker values.
- step 05
Add highlights to create contrast and form.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend tones where needed to create a sense of depth.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust values as needed.
- step 08
Add final touches to the background to create atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · raw umber
Achieve different shades of gray by mixing black and white in varying proportions. Use raw umber to warm up the grays slightly.
techniques
- ·value study
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value range.
- →Ignoring the direction of light.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a smooth canvas to allow for easier blending. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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