plate no. 1944
Portrait of a Jamaican Woman
Augustus John, 1937
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and understanding skin tones. It also provides practice in loose, expressive brushwork and creating a sense of form with minimal detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and background.
- step 03
Focus on establishing the correct values and relationships between the different areas.
- step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and details of the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add the details of the pearl necklace and other accessories.
- step 06
Use loose, expressive brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend colors where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Add small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre to create warmer skin tones.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Getting the proportions wrong and distorting the likeness.
- →Using too much detail and creating a stiff, unnatural effect.
- →Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat, unconvincing image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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