plate no. 9504
Portrait of O’Donnell Moffett
Rita Angus, 1939
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion and color mixing for skin tones. It also provides practice in creating smooth, blended surfaces.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and features.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of light blue paint.
- step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of skin tones.
- step 04
Paint the hair, paying attention to the direction of the strands and highlights.
- step 05
Add the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on accurate placement and shape.
- step 06
Paint the clothing, including the collar and buttons, using flat, even tones.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details of the portrait, blending and smoothing as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium yellow light · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow, umber, and a touch of red. Use blue and white for the background, and black and white for the gray sweater.
techniques
- ·portrait sketching
- ·color mixing for skin tones
- ·smooth blending
- ·flat color application
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of facial features
- →Muddy or unnatural skin tones
- →Overblending, resulting in a flat appearance
- →Ignoring subtle shifts in value
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cadmium yellow light oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will aid in blending.
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