plate no. 0474
Portrait of Sculptor Madeleine Jouvray
Magnus Enckell, 1894
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using a limited palette to create depth and form. It also provides practice in loose brushwork and subtle blending.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 03
Block in the dark areas of the dress and hair using a mix of black and burnt umber.
- step 04
Begin to build up the skin tones with layers of white, ochre, and a touch of red.
- step 05
Pay close attention to the light and shadow on the face to create form.
- step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add subtle highlights to the hair and dress.
- step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to achieve a harmonious balance.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Mix white with small amounts of ochre and red for skin tones. Use burnt umber and black for the dress, adding small amounts of sienna for highlights. The background is primarily burnt umber and raw sienna, with variations in value.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·value control
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
- →Using too much detail too early in the process.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 12x16
- ·Burnt umber oil paint
- ·Raw sienna oil paint
- ·Ivory black oil paint
- ·Titanium white oil paint
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Palette
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Medium gloss
Use a canvas with a smooth texture for easier blending. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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