plate no. 4972

Portrait of the artist's mother

Max Meldrum, 1913

oilTonalismportraitportraitfigurewomandark backgroundhairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand value relationships and how to create form using subtle tonal shifts. It's a good exercise in limited palette painting and achieving a sense of depth through careful observation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare your canvas with a neutral ground.
step 02
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and placement of the figure.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 04
Establish the mid-tones, focusing on the planes of the face and clothing.
step 05
Begin to refine the highlights, using small amounts of lighter paint.
step 06
Pay close attention to the subtle transitions between values.
step 07
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and edges to create a cohesive image.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna sparingly to warm up the skin tones.

techniques

·tonal painting
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
→Not paying attention to the subtle value changes.
→Using too much white, which can make the painting look chalky.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas
·Oil paints (raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Rags