plate no. 4615
Joseph Cox
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones. It also offers practice in blending and creating subtle value changes to model form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the oval and the figure's basic proportions.
- step 02
Block in the background with dark, muted tones.
- step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing.
- step 04
Begin layering skin tones, focusing on subtle color variations.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Develop the drapery of the clothing, paying attention to folds and highlights.
- step 07
Add details to the hair, using thin brushstrokes to suggest texture.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to values and colors to create a cohesive image.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna. Darker areas use raw umber and black. The clothing uses a mix of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·value studies
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Ignoring subtle value changes in the skin tones.
- →Getting lost in details too early in the process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the luminosity of the colors.
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