plate no. 5538

Sisters

oil, canvasRealismportraitfigureschildrenportraitclothingarchitecturewall

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form using subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background and figures using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the values and details of the faces, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the clothing and other details, gradually adding more layers of paint.
step 05
Refine the edges and details of the figures to create a sense of realism.
step 06
Add highlights and subtle color variations to bring the painting to life.
step 07
Glaze over areas to unify the colors and values.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones. Mix ultramarine blue with burnt umber to create darker shadows.

techniques