plate no. 4770
Portrait of Mary Block
Ivan Albright, 1957
advanced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in detailed rendering, color mixing for skin tones, and creating realistic textures. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and conveying a sense of personality.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 40 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a detailed line drawing of the composition, paying close attention to proportions and perspective.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure.
- step 03
Begin layering colors to build up depth and form, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
- step 04
Refine the skin tones by mixing subtle variations of color and blending them smoothly.
- step 05
Add details to the dress, jewelry, and other elements, using small brushes and precise strokes.
- step 06
Pay close attention to the texture of the fabric and the reflections on the jewelry.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and balance.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the realism of the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · alizarin crimson
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black
Skin tones are achieved by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, alizarin crimson, and titanium white. Varying the proportions of these colors will create different skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create shadows and depth.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial drawing.
- →Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the details in the dress and jewelry.
- →Not paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer of paint to dry before applying the next.
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