plate no. 8238

Portrait of Samuel L. M. Barlow

Paul Feeley, 1932

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingface

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and understanding tonal values to create form. It also provides practice in limited palette painting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Establish the overall tonal range by applying a thin wash of the darker color to the areas of shadow.
step 03
Begin building up the mid-tones, gradually adding lighter values to the areas of highlight.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair and clothing, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Blend the edges of the shapes to create a smooth transition between values.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.
step 08
Check proportions and details, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix burnt umber with white to create various shades of brown and beige. Use raw sienna to warm up the skin tones and ivory black to deepen the shadows.

techniques