plate no. 1145

Portrait of Utagawa Kunisada

oilUkiyo-eportraitfigureportraitclothingcushiontabletext

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for subtle skin tones, and rendering intricate patterns on clothing and textiles. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through layering and subtle shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, cushion, and table.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the figure's clothing.
step 03
Mix and apply the base skin tone, paying attention to the subtle variations in color.
step 04
Begin adding shadows and highlights to the face and hands to create form.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the clothing, including the patterns and folds.
step 06
Paint the cushion and table, paying attention to the patterns and textures.
step 07
Add the text elements, using a fine brush or pen.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · light blue · gray · red

secondary · dark blue · green · white

Mix light blue from a cerulean blue and white. Create skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the darker blues by adding a touch of black to the light blue.

techniques

·flat washes
·subtle blending
·line work
·pattern rendering
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Incorrect proportions of the figure
→Muddying the colors by overmixing
→Ignoring the subtle variations in tone

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic paints (light blue, gray, red, dark blue, green, white, yellow ochre, black)
·round brush size 2
·flat brush size 6
·palette
·water container
·paper towels
·pencil