plate no. 7871

Half length study of a boy

Henry Scott Tuke, 1909

oilImpressionismsketch and studyfiguretreesfoliageboyportraitnature

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and foliage, as well as practice creating form with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure and the surrounding trees, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the background by blocking in the overall color masses of the foliage and tree trunks.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Use broken brushstrokes to create the texture of the foliage, varying the colors and values to suggest depth.
step 05
Refine the details of the figure, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 06
Add highlights to the foliage and figure to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 07
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, or value.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely before varnishing.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, adding small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth. Mix greens by combining sap green, cadmium yellow, and ultramarine blue.

techniques