plate no. 3322
Portrait of Azadoohi (Liberty Miller)
Arshile Gorky, 1926
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing with a limited palette, and capturing form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms and focusing on essential details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, chair, and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color.
- step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to proportions and placement.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing and chair, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Blend edges and adjust colors as needed to achieve a cohesive look.
- step 07
Add final details and refine the overall composition.
- step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish for protection.
color palette
primary · red · brown · white · blue
secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber
Mix various shades of red and brown by combining primary colors with white and umber. Use blue to create cooler tones in the background and shadows. Yellow ochre can be used to warm up the skin tones.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·color mixing
- ·portrait sketching
- ·blocking in color
- ·visible brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.
- →Not capturing the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (red, brown, white, blue, yellow ochre, raw umber)
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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