plate no. 7320

Percy Huxter

Arthur Pan, 1954

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitclownfigurehatmakeupcostume

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and expression, as well as understanding color mixing for skin tones and creating a sense of depth through layering.

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 clown's head, hat, and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of light blue, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of white, ochre, and a touch of red.
step 04
Begin layering the colors for the clown's costume, focusing on the reds and oranges, and blending them softly.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Refine the details of the hat, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
step 07
Add the clown's makeup details, using thin lines for the eyebrows and mouth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna

Mix white with small amounts of ochre and red to create the base skin tone. Use blue and white for the background, adding touches of ochre for warmth. Mix reds and umber for the costume.

techniques