plate no. 7506
Portrait of Mrs. Leigo
Thomas Eakins, 1906
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle color mixing for skin tones, and creating soft transitions between light and shadow. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms and focus on capturing the likeness and mood of the subject.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the head, shoulders, and features.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin layer of dark, muted colors.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and body using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 04
Begin refining the skin tones by layering and blending colors, paying close attention to the subtle variations in value and hue.
- step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
- step 06
Develop the hair, using short, broken strokes to suggest texture and volume.
- step 07
Paint the clothing, simplifying the details and focusing on the overall form and color.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue
Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue to adjust the warmth and coolness of the colors. Use raw umber and ultramarine blue for the darker background tones.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated, resulting in an unnatural appearance.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions and likeness of the subject.
- →Creating harsh transitions between light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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