plate no. 5722

Portrait of Miss Mary Perkins

Thomas Eakins, 1902

oilRealismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothinghatface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using a limited palette to create depth and form. It also provides practice in loose, expressive brushwork and creating a sense of atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hat.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and clothing with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the general skin tone of the face and neck, paying attention to the subtle variations in color.
step 04
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with careful attention to detail.
step 05
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the details of the hair and clothing, using loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a harmonious and balanced composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre to achieve the skin tones. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark areas, and add small amounts of cadmium red for warmth in the cheeks and lips.

techniques

·alla prima
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·value studies
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the brushwork.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions and likeness of the subject.
→Creating muddy or dull colors by overmixing the paints.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color that create depth and dimension.