plate no. 6059

Robin John

Augustus John, 1916

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureboyjacketbackgroundtie

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and blending skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth using subtle color variations and brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the boy's head and shoulders, paying attention to proportions and placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, hair, jacket, and background.
step 03
Start refining the skin tones, using subtle variations of color to create form and depth.
step 04
Work on the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using smaller brushes.
step 05
Develop the jacket and tie, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 06
Add details to the background, using loose brushstrokes to suggest foliage.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones using titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the jacket color by mixing ultramarine blue and raw umber, adding white for highlights.

techniques