plate no. 6428

The Captain

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)portraitportraitfiguremilitaryuniformhathands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in smooth blending, color mixing to achieve subtle variations in tone, and understanding of simplified form and proportion.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, focusing on the exaggerated proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Apply a base layer of olive green for the uniform, paying attention to the overall form.
step 04
Begin layering and blending to create smooth transitions and subtle highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details such as the buttons, epaulettes, and red trim.
step 06
Paint the face, focusing on the subtle blush and the small, understated features.
step 07
Refine the hands and the object they are holding.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.

color palette

primary · olive green · flesh tones · black

secondary · gold · red · white

Mix olive green by combining yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of black. Achieve flesh tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a small amount of red.

techniques

·smooth blending
·color layering
·glazing
·scumbling
·value control

common pitfalls

→Overworking the blending, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in tone.
→Getting the proportions wrong, which will detract from the overall effect.
→Making the details too sharp or defined.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Acrylic or oil paints (olive green, yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, black, red)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)