plate no. 0869
Mrs. Kirkwood
George Henry, 1908
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric and textures with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating subtle color variations and soft edges.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the large shapes of the dress, hat, and skin tones.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow on the face.
- step 05
Add details to the dress and hat, using loose brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
- step 06
Paint the background and flowers, using soft, blended brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · ultramarine blue · violet · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of gray and black by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Use cadmium red light and white to create the skin tones, and add a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix ultramarine blue and cadmium red light to create the violet for the flowers.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium can be added to the paint to improve flow and drying time.
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