plate no. 5129
The Artist
Ion Theodorescu-Sion, 1927
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form using color and value.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and plant.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the background, figure, and plant using thin washes.
- step 03
Start building up the skin tones with layers of color, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Define the features of the face, focusing on accurate placement and proportions.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, clothing, and plant, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the background and adjust the overall color balance.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Let dry and add a varnish coat.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · viridian green · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use viridian green mixed with yellow ochre for the plant. Achieve darker tones by adding burnt umber.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.
- →Not capturing the texture of the hair and clothing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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