plate no. 5691

Portrait of Robert Storr

Philip Pearlstein, 1988

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfiguremanfacehairclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for realistic skin tones and understanding how light and shadow define form. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and subtle facial expressions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the portrait, focusing on accurate proportions and placement of features.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, shirt, and background.
step 03
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions between light and shadow on the face.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone, using a variety of colors to achieve a realistic effect.
step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the unique characteristics of the subject.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the hair to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Paint the shirt, paying attention to the folds and wrinkles in the fabric.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and burnt sienna, adding small amounts of red or blue to adjust the temperature. Use ultramarine blue and white with a touch of green for the shirt.

techniques