plate no. 0723

Father and Daughter

Lucian Freud, 1949

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfatherdaughterfigurescurtainclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering textures and patterns, as seen in the curtain.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and the curtain.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted yellow and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the faces, clothing, and curtain, focusing on accurate values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures.
step 06
Paint the individual elements of the curtain, varying the colors and values to create depth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of realism.
step 08
Refine the edges and details, making sure the overall composition is balanced and harmonious.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and small amounts of red and blue. Use black and white to adjust values. Muted greens and browns are created by mixing complementary colors.

techniques