plate no. 8167

Sally

Joseph DeCamp, 1907

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

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

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 head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin layer of dark paint, leaving the figure's area untouched.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, layering subtle variations of color to create form and depth.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to suggest texture and volume.
step 06
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. The black is softened with white or umber for the clothing and background.

techniques

·portraiture
·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
→Creating harsh lines or edges that detract from the overall softness of the painting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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