plate no. 2099

Edward Alexander Wadsworth

Edward Wadsworth, 1937

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanberetfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering textures and details in clothing and accessories.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and beret.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and neck using a limited palette.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending colors, paying attention to subtle variations.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness.
step 06
Paint the beret, rendering its texture and form with careful brushstrokes.
step 07
Define the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Add small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and ultramarine blue for shadows. The background is a mix of ultramarine blue and ivory black with a touch of white.

techniques

·color mixing
·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Oversimplifying the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium red, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits