plate no. 5929
Paul Falconer Poole, British genre painter
Frank Holl, 1879
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using expressive brushwork to define form. It also provides practice in limited palette color mixing and creating a sense of depth through value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the darkest values in the background and around the figure.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with a mid-tone mixture.
- step 04
Begin adding highlights to the forehead, nose, and beard.
- step 05
Refine the features, paying close attention to the eyes and mouth.
- step 06
Develop the beard with varied brushstrokes and values.
- step 07
Add details to the hair and clothing.
- step 08
Adjust values and refine edges for a finished look.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix various shades of skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use raw umber and black for shadows and background. Add small amounts of blue to the darks to cool them down.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·value studies
- ·limited palette
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Using too much paint and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle value changes in the skin.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
A toned canvas (lightly tinted with raw umber) can be helpful for establishing values quickly. Use a medium that allows for quick drying if desired.
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