plate no. 2028

Noel Harry Leaver (1889–1951)

Leon Underwood, 1911

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations to create form. It also offers practice in capturing likeness and rendering clothing details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Begin layering in skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the face, especially around the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Block in the dark areas of the suit, using a mix of black and burnt umber.
step 06
Add details to the hair, paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to suggest form and texture.
step 07
Refine the background, blending the colors smoothly to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use burnt umber and black for the suit, adding small amounts of white for highlights.

techniques