plate no. 5527

Dr. Harvey Cushing

Edmund Charles Tarbell, 1908

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanchairclothingbow tie

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering subtle tonal variations in skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through controlled value contrasts.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light charcoal sketch to establish the proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Focus on establishing the dark background and gradually build up the mid-tones.
step 04
Start refining the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Work on the clothing and chair, capturing the folds and textures.
step 06
Refine the hands, focusing on the subtle details and gestures.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to bring the portrait to life.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw umber, titanium white, and a touch of cadmium red light. Use ivory black to darken values and create shadows. Mix yellow ochre and white for highlights.

techniques