plate no. 0676
Mirror II
George Tooker, 1963
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing, smooth blending, and capturing realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting figures and hands with accurate proportions and subtle shading.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
1
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures, mirror, and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying thin washes of color to the background and figures.
- step 03
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of subtle color variations, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
- step 04
Carefully define the features of the faces, paying attention to the subtle details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Paint the mirror frame, capturing its color and texture.
- step 06
Refine the details of the hands, paying attention to the folds and creases of the skin.
- step 07
Add the clothing details, using subtle color variations to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a cohesive and realistic effect.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of raw umber and cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and white for the blue clothing. Create the background with a mix of white, raw umber, and a touch of yellow ochre.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·color blending
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Using too much paint, obscuring the subtle details.
- →Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions.
- →Failing to create smooth transitions between colors.
materials
surface · gessoed stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·gesso
- ·titanium white tempera paint
- ·raw umber tempera paint
- ·yellow ochre tempera paint
- ·ultramarine blue tempera paint
- ·cadmium red light tempera paint
- ·small round brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
Tempera paint dries quickly, so work in small sections and use a retarder medium if needed. Apply thin layers of paint to build up the colors gradually.
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