plate no. 0791
Portrait of Nenna Janson Nagel, b. Backer Lunde
Harriet Backer, 1892
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.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, and background.
- step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending subtle color variations.
- step 05
Develop the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the clothing.
- step 07
Use loose brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the hair.
- step 08
Adjust the overall composition and add final details.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones using white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create the blue of the dress by mixing ultramarine blue with burnt umber for darker shades and white for lighter shades.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·limited palette
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Using too much color and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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