plate no. 4517
The Child
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and subtle skin tones. Students can also develop skills in rendering fabric and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the child and chair.
- step 02
Establish the background with light washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the child's skin, clothing, and hair.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the details of the chair and clothing, adding texture and patterns.
- step 06
Add details to the background, including the window and any other elements.
- step 07
Adjust values and colors to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · sap green
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Achieve the red of the chair by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt sienna and umber for shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·rendering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the child.
- →Ignoring the background and its impact on the overall composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for optimal texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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