plate no. 2263

John Kennedy

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfiguremanheadhairsuit

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating subtle gradations of light and shadow. It's a good exercise in achieving a likeness and understanding facial structure.

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 head and facial features.
step 02
Establish the overall background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending colors, paying attention to subtle variations.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on accurate shapes and values.
step 06
Paint the hair, using short brushstrokes to suggest texture and volume.
step 07
Define the suit and tie, keeping the details simple and understated.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and edges to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, umber, sienna, and a touch of red. Use blue and black sparingly to create shadows and cool tones. Yellow ochre can add warmth.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·blending
·layering
·value study

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
→Ignoring subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, ivory black, yellow ochre)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·palette knife
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags or paper towels