plate no. 6083

Johnnie Patton

Robert Henri, 1924

oilAmerican Realismportraitportraitboyhatscarfclothingfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating depth through value and color variations. It also offers practice in expressive brushwork and color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the boy's head, shoulders, and hat on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones by layering different shades of pink, yellow, and brown, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
step 04
Paint the hat and clothing, focusing on capturing the texture and folds of the fabric with expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the background with loose, blended brushstrokes, creating a soft and atmospheric effect.
step 07
Refine the edges and details of the painting, paying attention to the overall balance and harmony of the composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, and titanium white. Create the green of the jacket by mixing viridian green with burnt umber and yellow ochre. The background uses ultramarine blue and white, with touches of purple.

techniques

·portraiture
·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushwork.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating depth and form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags