plate no. 1177

Jonathan Simpson

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingchairbackground

experienced study

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in layering paint to create subtle value changes and capturing realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, clothing, background, and chair.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to refine the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 06
Refine the background and chair, adding subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Add final details, such as the eyes, hair, and hands.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of raw umber. Darken colors with burnt umber and black. Use ultramarine blue to cool down shadows.

techniques