plate no. 1117

Portrait of the president Afonso Pena

Rodolfo Amoedo, 1908

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitmansuitfacial hairglassesformal wear

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating subtle value gradations to model form. It also provides practice in rendering textures like hair and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones, background, and clothing.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, layering subtle variations of color to create form and depth.
step 05
Work on the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and facial hair.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the collar, tie, and jacket, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the subject without being distracting.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark tones in the suit.

techniques

·portrait painting
·color mixing
·value studies
·blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overmixing the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.
→Getting lost in the details before establishing the overall structure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife