plate no. 4182

Merikli

Augustus John, 1902

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureflowersbasketclothingjewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and floral details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and basket.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, clothing, and skin tones with thin washes.
step 03
Develop the values and details of the face, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Refine the clothing, adding folds and texture with slightly thicker paint.
step 05
Paint the flowers and basket, focusing on their individual colors and shapes.
step 06
Add details to the jewelry and other accessories.
step 07
Glaze over areas as needed to unify the colors and values.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of red for warmth. Darken colors with ivory black and lighten with titanium white.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·color mixing
·rendering form

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas
·Oil paints (raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags