plate no. 3022

Portrait of a Naval Officer, Harry Kelman

Frederick Varley, 1943

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigureofficeruniformmanhat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and details.

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 figure, paying attention to the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, loose strokes of warm neutral colors.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, uniform, and hat, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, using subtle color variations to create form and volume.
step 05
Add details to the uniform, including the collar, tie, and any insignia.
step 06
Develop the hands and arms, paying attention to the folds of the fabric and the highlights on the skin.
step 07
Refine the background, adding depth and interest with subtle color variations and brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue for subtle variations. Darken colors with ivory black and lighten with titanium white.

techniques