plate no. 3371

The Artist's Aunt

oilRealismportraitportraitelderly womanfigurefacehandclothing

some experience helpful

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

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, hand, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the overall composition, including the background and the paper with writing.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color with thin washes, focusing on the background and the dark clothing.
step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle variations in color and value on the face to create a realistic effect.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Add details to the clothing and background, including the texture of the fabric and the writing on the paper.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and balanced painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the dark clothing, and dilute with medium for glazing.

techniques