plate no. 4701

Portrait of Harriet with baby Lawrence James

James Taylor Harwood, 1900

oil, canvasRealismportraitfigureportraitbabywindowplantssnow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including rendering skin tones and facial features, as well as understanding how to depict light and shadow in an interior scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, baby, and window.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, starting with the background and then moving to the figure.
step 03
Develop the skin tones of the mother and baby, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Add details to the dress, chair, and plants, using smaller brushes and finer strokes.
step 05
Paint the snow scene outside the window, focusing on capturing the light and atmosphere.
step 06
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Let dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · sap green · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the warm tones of the dress and interior. Use alizarin crimson and white for the skin tones, and sap green and ultramarine blue for the plants.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating depth and dimension.
→Getting lost in the details and losing sight of the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, alizarin crimson, sap green, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, various sizes)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags