plate no. 8334

Little Carl (Karl Schleicher)

Robert Henri, 1921

oilAmerican Realismportraitportraitchildfigureclothingchairindoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing likeness with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms and creating a sense of depth with subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of dark browns and greens.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and chair, focusing on the overall value relationships.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of pink, yellow, and brown.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to their placement and shape.
step 06
Define the clothing and chair with bolder brushstrokes, capturing the texture and folds of the fabric.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, and a touch of cadmium red light. Darken colors with burnt umber and ultramarine blue. Use viridian to create the dark greens in the background.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color temperature
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, viridian)
·Bristle brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags