plate no. 1905

Frederick W. Pomeroy

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingchaircane

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere using a limited color palette.

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 and chair.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darkest and lightest areas with thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the mid-tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 04
Focus on the face, carefully rendering the features and capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, chair, and cane, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it recedes and does not compete with the figure.
step 07
Add highlights and final touches to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust the color temperature.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining umber, black, and white. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or cadmium red to warm up the colors and create subtle variations.

techniques