plate no. 0525
Portrait of Miss Hilary Mackinnon
Rupert Bunny, 1913
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practice creating soft, diffused lighting effects and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and fur.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, skin tones, and clothing.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in value and color.
- step 05
Add details to the hat, fur, and rose, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Use burnt umber and black to create shadows. Mix blue and white for the hat ribbon.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
- →Struggling to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Creating muddy or dull colors.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
