plate no. 5439

Portrait of children

Alejandro Cabeza, 2012

oil, canvasContemporary Realismportraitportraitboychildfigureclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and subtle variations in light and shadow.

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 face and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of dark, muted colors.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Add highlights to the eyes, nose, and lips to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 06
Paint the clothing with loose, expressive brushstrokes, capturing the folds and textures.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and values to create a harmonious and balanced image.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use viridian and umber to create cool shadows. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color temperature
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Neglecting the subtle shifts in value and color, leading to a lack of realism.
→Getting bogged down in details too early, before establishing the overall composition and values.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, viridian, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits