plate no. 8206

Portrait of a Boy

L. S. Lowry, 1914

oilSymbolismportraitportraitboyfigureclothingfacetie

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and understanding basic portrait composition.

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 boy's head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, shirt, and suit, focusing on overall values.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, using short, visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to their placement and shape.
step 06
Refine the clothing, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and form.
step 07
Continue to develop the texture of the painting with small, deliberate brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black · cadmium red light

Mix raw umber and yellow ochre with white for the base skin tone. Add small amounts of burnt sienna and cadmium red for warmth. Use ivory black to darken shadows and create contrast.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color layering
·portrait proportions
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, which can result in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong, which can distort the likeness.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone, which can make the portrait look unnatural.
→Using too much paint, which can obscure the texture of the brushstrokes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·raw umber oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·ivory black oil paint
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·painting medium
·varnish

Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein