plate no. 6459
Lord Goodman
Graham Sutherland, 1974
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion and capturing likeness, as well as understanding color temperature and how to create depth through subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure onto the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the background, the suit, and the skin tones.
- step 03
Refine the shapes and values of the face, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Add details to the suit and tie, including the folds and wrinkles.
- step 05
Work on the hands, capturing their gesture and form.
- step 06
Blend the edges of the shapes to create a soft, painterly effect.
- step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing.
- step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black
Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Achieve the suit color by mixing blue, umber, and a small amount of red. The background is primarily red with subtle variations created by adding white, umber, or yellow.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy effect.
- →Not paying enough attention to the subtle value changes in the skin tones.
- →Ignoring the texture of the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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