plate no. 0531

Dempsey (Warriors)

Daniel Sambo-Richter, 2014

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfiguremilitarymanuniformhead

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones with visible brushstrokes. It will also improve their understanding of color mixing for realistic depictions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin blocking in the major color areas of the skin, hair, and uniform.
step 04
Develop the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Add details to the uniform, including the insignia and buttons.
step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the subject.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
step 08
Review and adjust the painting as needed to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, umber, and a touch of blue. Use black and blue for the uniform, adding white for highlights. Mix ochre and umber for the gold details.

techniques