plate no. 9356
John Casimir
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures like hair and fabric.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hair.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and background.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Develop the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the collar, robe, and any embellishments.
- step 06
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow light · burnt sienna
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow, and a touch of red and umber. Use blue and umber to create shadows. Add crimson to warm the skin tones.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·rendering textures
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong
- →Over-blending the skin tones
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color
- →Making the hair look flat and lifeless
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow light oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth and luminosity of the colors.
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