plate no. 2874

Portrait of a Singer

oilSurrealismportraitfigureportraitbirdtabledraperysurreal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing to achieve muted tones, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. Students will also practice rendering fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, table, and birds.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of yellow and green.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure's skin, dress, and the table.
step 04
Begin to refine the values and details of the face, paying attention to the subtle shadows and highlights.
step 05
Add details to the dress, focusing on the folds and drapery.
step 06
Paint the birds, starting with the larger one and then the smaller one held in the hand.
step 07
Refine the details of the birds, including the feathers and eyes.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · Prussian blue

secondary · sap green · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the skin tones. Use Prussian blue and white to create the blues of the birds. Mix yellow ochre, sap green, and white for the background.

techniques