plate no. 1975
Portrait of Samuel Murray
Thomas Eakins, 1889
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through subtle value shifts and soft edges.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a simple sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 03
Establish the darkest areas of the background and clothing.
- step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
- step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Add highlights to the face and hair to create dimension.
- step 08
Refine the details of the clothing and background.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use ivory black and burnt umber to create the dark background and clothing.
techniques
- ·portrait drawing
- ·value studies
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in color and value in the skin tones.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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