plate no. 7679

Mrs Ramsey Hunt

Graham Sutherland, 1959

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingjewelryface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through layering and brushwork. It also encourages exploration of expressive brushstrokes and capturing a subject's likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the overall green background tone with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, hair, and clothing with broad strokes of color, focusing on value relationships.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the hair, clothing, and jewelry, using smaller brushes and more precise strokes.
step 06
Develop the background further, adding layers of color and texture to create depth.
step 07
Refine the edges of the figure and background, softening some areas and sharpening others.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · sap green · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, umber, and a touch of green. Achieve the green background by mixing sap green with raw umber and white for variations in tone.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat or muddy painting.
→Getting bogged down in precise rendering and neglecting the overall composition.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figure