plate no. 5436

Portrait of Frederick Brewer, Bust-length, in a Sailor's Uniform

Henry Scott Tuke, 1910

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguresailor uniformmaleclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including mixing realistic skin tones and capturing subtle variations in light and shadow. It also offers practice in rendering fabric and textures with visible brushstrokes.

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 head and shoulders using a light pencil.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Block in the main areas of skin tone, using a mix of warm and cool colors.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the face.
step 06
Paint the sailor uniform, focusing on the folds and creases in the fabric.
step 07
Add details to the hair, using small, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a realistic and harmonious effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber and blue. Use ultramarine blue and white for the blue in the uniform, adding black for darker shades. Mix white with a touch of black for the white parts of the uniform.

techniques