plate no. 4856

Sir Sacheverell Sitwell

Graham Sutherland, 1973

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacehead

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing likeness through expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form using subtle value changes.

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 head, shoulders, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, focusing on capturing the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the clothing and background, using loose brushstrokes and simplified shapes.
step 06
Refine the edges and contours of the figure to create a sense of depth and form.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the portrait.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and expressive result.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, and umber, with small amounts of yellow ochre and blue for subtle variations. Use black and umber for dark areas, and white with a touch of yellow for highlights.

techniques