plate no. 0321
Portrait of Anna H. Leonowens (detail)
Robert Harris, 1905
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating subtle value changes to model form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle color variations.
- step 04
Define the features of the face, focusing on accurate placement and proportions.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, capturing the folds and textures.
- step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
- step 07
Add details such as the jewelry and hair.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to values and colors to achieve a cohesive and realistic portrait.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and small amounts of alizarin crimson and yellow ochre. The dress is created with white, ultramarine blue, and touches of yellow ochre.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·value studies
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Incorrect proportions leading to a distorted likeness.
- →Ignoring subtle color variations in the face.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
- →Not paying attention to the background and its relationship to the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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