plate no. 5202

Harry Melvill

Jacques-Émile Blanche, 1904

oilPost-Impressionismportraitfigureportraitclothingchairhandsbow tie

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how light and shadow define form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the figure, chair, and background with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the face and hands, paying attention to subtle value changes.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, using brushstrokes to suggest texture and form.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression of the subject.
step 06
Add details to the background and chair, maintaining a soft and blurred effect.
step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value contrast to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the realism and visual interest of the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of skin tones by combining white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of blue or yellow. Achieve the off-white color of the suit by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·scumbling
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using colors that are too saturated or intense.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes in the skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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