plate no. 0508
L'arabe Aveugle
Paul Leroy, 1890
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and staff.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad washes of muted browns and grays, creating a light-to-dark gradient.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of the figure, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle color variations to create form and depth.
- step 05
Add details to the turban and clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
- step 06
Refine the features of the face, capturing the expression and likeness.
- step 07
Paint the staff, adding highlights and shadows to give it dimension.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of skin tones using white, umber, sienna, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use black sparingly to darken values.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·value studies
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Ignoring the underlying value structure.
- →Focusing too much on details before establishing the overall form.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Using too much black, which can flatten the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grit canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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