plate no. 5794

Portrait of Helen Galloway McNicoll

Robert Harris, 1910

oilRealismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingpaletteartist

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in portraiture, focusing on subtle skin tones and rendering fabric. Students will develop skills in layering paint and creating soft transitions.

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 figure and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 04
Begin layering paint to refine the shapes and values, paying attention to the light source.
step 05
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and accessories, such as the collar and jewelry.
step 07
Refine the background and create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use burnt umber and ivory black to create the dark background, gradually lightening with raw sienna and white.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags