plate no. 4681
Family Group
Joshua Johnson, 1800
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and creating a sense of depth through layering and subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering fabrics and textures with a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of figures.
- step 02
Block in the background with dark, muted tones.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones for each figure, paying attention to subtle variations.
- step 04
Begin layering the clothing, starting with the darkest shadows and gradually adding highlights.
- step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the unique characteristics of each individual.
- step 06
Add details such as the lace, buttons, and accessories.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and balance.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · prussian blue · cadmium red light
Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre to warm the skin tones and add subtle highlights. Mix prussian blue and titanium white for the blue dress.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figures.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes in the skin tones.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·prussian blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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