plate no. 2004

Little Bear, Hunkpapa Brave

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureNative Americanheaddressjewelryweapon

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures and details in clothing and accessories.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with a light, cloudy wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the headdress, jewelry, and other accessories.
step 06
Develop the textures of the fur and the weapon.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and add final details.
step 08
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Mix burnt sienna and raw umber with white to achieve various skin tones. Use cadmium red for the face paint. Mix ivory black and ultramarine blue for the dark fur.

techniques