plate no. 5343

Dorelia

Augustus John, 1959

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanheadscarfclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, specifically capturing likeness and using expressive brushstrokes to define form. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and the drape of the headscarf.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of the primary red-brown color.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face and headscarf using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Begin to define the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add the blue and white patterns on the clothing, using loose brushstrokes to suggest the fabric's texture.
step 06
Refine the details of the headscarf, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the background color by mixing red and umber. Use white and blue to create the lighter shades of the headscarf and clothing.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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