plate no. 9031
Le Chef de l'Hotel Chatham, Paris
William Orpen, 1921
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures, such as fabric and hair, using subtle variations in value and color.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the chef's figure and the table.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the chef's clothing and skin.
- step 03
Focus on establishing the correct values and color temperatures in the face, paying attention to the subtle transitions between light and shadow.
- step 04
Develop the details of the chef's beard, mustache, and hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, including the buttons, folds, and wrinkles.
- step 06
Add the details of the table, including the bottle, glass, and food.
- step 07
Pay attention to the edges of the forms, softening or hardening them as needed to create depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt umber, cadmium red, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use ivory black and white for the chef's whites, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations in value.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·value study
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details before establishing the overall values and color temperatures.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or unrealistic.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color that create depth and atmosphere.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a high-quality canvas and oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and improve its flow.
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