plate no. 0158

Mrs. Joseph Martin and her Son Charles

oil, canvasRococoportraitfigureportraitmotherchildclothingdark background

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 depicting drapery and creating depth through value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a neutral brown or gray.
step 02
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figures.
step 03
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, layering colors and blending carefully.
step 05
Define the drapery folds and shadows in the clothing.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying attention to details like the eyes and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and details to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and brown. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create a muted green for the drapery.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subjects.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
→Making the background too bright, which flattens the image.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife