plate no. 5732
L'orientale
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 loose, expressive brushwork and creating depth with subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure onto the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin, hair, and clothing.
- step 03
Start refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Develop the hair, using loose brushstrokes to suggest texture and volume.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, capturing the folds and highlights.
- step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Darken shadows with burnt umber and a hint of blue. Achieve the background color by mixing black, white, and a touch of umber.
techniques
- ·portrait drawing
- ·value studies
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
- →Using too much detail in the hair, making it look stiff and unnatural.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create depth and form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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