plate no. 7561

Ronald Reagan

Aaron Shikler, 1980

oilNew Realismportraitportraitfigureclothingshirtbeltface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and rendering realistic textures in clothing. It also provides practice in capturing subtle light and shadow to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the pose and overall composition.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Begin blocking in the background with a thin wash of color.
step 04
Mix the base skin tone and apply it to the face and neck, gradually building up layers and adding subtle variations in color.
step 05
Paint the shirt and jeans, focusing on capturing the folds and wrinkles with appropriate values and color shifts.
step 06
Add details to the belt and buckle, paying attention to the textures and highlights.
step 07
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by combining titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Use cerulean blue and titanium white for the shirt, adding small amounts of ultramarine blue for shadows. Mix raw umber and ivory black for the belt.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall form.
→Not paying attention to the light source and its effect on the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (cerulean blue, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ivory black, ultramarine blue)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags