plate no. 0300

Portrait of the Artist's Son

temperaRealismportraitportraitchildfoliageflowersgardentable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as painting foliage with variations in color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the boy, table, and background foliage.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a light wash, focusing on the darkest and lightest areas.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Paint the hair, using short, directional strokes to create texture.
step 05
Develop the foliage, varying the greens and adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 06
Add the red flowers, using a slightly brighter red than the surrounding foliage.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the entire painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · sap green · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of green by combining ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Create skin tones by blending titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and a small amount of burnt umber.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle shifts in color and value in the foliage.
→Making the red flowers too bright or saturated, causing them to stand out too much.
→Ignoring the importance of accurate proportions in the portrait.