plate no. 1706

Esther Kenworthy

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfigurehatclothingfacebackground

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and rendering skin tones with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in expressive brushwork and creating depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones, hat, and background.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create depth and form in the face and clothing.
step 05
Use short, expressive brushstrokes to build up texture in the background and hat.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add the final touches, such as the details of the hat and clothing.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add luminosity.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Create the dark browns and blacks by mixing burnt umber, black, and a touch of blue. Use white and a touch of blue to create the highlights on the hat and clothing.

techniques

·alla prima
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face and hat.
→Using too much detail in the background, distracting from the main subject.
→Not creating enough contrast between the light and dark areas.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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