plate no. 9653

Portrait of Paul Ranson Dressed as a Prophet

oil, canvasCloisonnismportraitportraitfigurebookstaffclothingorange background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing textures with visible brushstrokes. Students will also learn about simplifying forms and using color to create a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, book, and staff.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then the figure's clothing.
step 03
Mix and apply the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle variations in color.
step 04
Add the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and facial hair.
step 05
Paint the book and staff, using short, visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add the details of the clothing and jewelry.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and colors.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · orange · cadmium yellow · raw umber

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white. The blue clothing can be created by mixing ultramarine blue with white, and the orange background by mixing red and yellow.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brush texture
·color mixing
·visible brushstrokes
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Not paying attention to the subtle variations in color.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform.
→Ignoring the importance of highlights and shadows.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, titanium white, orange, cadmium yellow, raw umber)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine

optional