plate no. 5633

Major James Sidney Rollins

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)portraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion and likeness, as well as blending techniques for smooth skin tones and rendering of fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, hair, clothing, and background.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Work on the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights to create form.
step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
step 07
Add final details, such as the eyes, lips, and any other distinguishing features.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and realistic result.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones using white, sienna, umber, and a touch of red. Achieve dark blacks by mixing ivory black and burnt umber. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques