Portrait of Delia Delaney by Beauford Delaney

plate no. 2587

Portrait of Delia Delaney

Beauford Delaney, 1963

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurefacehairclothingperson

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing to achieve specific skin tones and explore expressive brushwork to convey form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

3

brushwork visibility

4

value contrast

3

compositional simplicity

4

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with a solid layer of yellow paint.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a yellow base.
step 04
Mix and apply darker tones for the hair, using visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Add green and white for the clothing, focusing on the collar details.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Adjust colors and values as needed to match the original painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · sap green · light blue

Mix yellow ochre and white for the base skin tone. Add burnt umber for shadows and sap green for the clothing. Use white and light blue for the collar.

techniques

·expressive brushwork
·color mixing
·layering
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, losing the expressive brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Using too much detail in the features.
→Not achieving the right skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·yellow ochre oil paint
·burnt umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·sap green oil paint
·round brushes
·flat brushes

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·painting medium
·easel

Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches). Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.

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