plate no. 0324

Passing on the Palette

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)self-portraitportraitfigureartisttreesdoorwayclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and creating depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures and the doorway.
step 02
Establish the background with light washes of color, paying attention to the light and shadow on the wall and doorway.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the details of the face, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Develop the clothing and other details, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and interest.
step 06
Paint the foliage visible through the doorway, using a loose and impressionistic style.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust values.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red, and yellow ochre, with small amounts of raw umber for shadows. Mix greens by combining viridian with yellow ochre and titanium white.

techniques