plate no. 7894
Portrait
some experience helpful
This painting is a good exercise in capturing a likeness using loose brushstrokes and a limited color palette. Students can learn to simplify forms and focus on essential values to create a recognizable portrait.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the face and figure.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details, but avoid overworking the painting.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the eyes and other key areas.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and white. Use small amounts of red and yellow to warm up the skin tones. Use black to create darker shadows.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·color temperature
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting bogged down in details too early.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·round brushes
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Dolly Sisters
Kees van Dongen
Nude with Loaves
Jean Helion
My Father
Carlos Botelho
Helen
Chronis Botsoglou
The portrait painter in the country
Albin Egger-Lienz
Marketta on Lázeňská street, Prague
Maria Bozoky
Winter at the Entrepotdok, in Amsterdam city
Paul Werner
Old Woman with Masks (Theatre of Masks)
James Ensor