plate no. 7882

The Family (John Gruen, Jane Wilson and Julia)

Alice Neel, 1970

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitfiguresportraitfamilyclothingcouchinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, mixing skin tones, and capturing likeness with expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages simplification of form and color for a stylized effect.

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 figures and the couch.
step 02
Block in the background and the large areas of color for each figure's clothing and skin.
step 03
Begin to refine the shapes of the faces, paying attention to the angles and planes.
step 04
Mix and apply the various skin tones, using subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as patterns and folds.
step 06
Define the features of the faces, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the background and add any final details.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · purple · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing burnt umber, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Vary the proportions to create different shades and hues. The purple is made by mixing red and blue.

techniques

·expressive brushwork
·color mixing
·portraiture
·simplification
·blocking in

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Getting bogged down in realism
→Incorrect proportions
→Muddy colors

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes
·linseed oil
·turpentine

optional

·medium gloss
·painting easel
·rags

Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. A limited palette of oil paints is sufficient to recreate the colors in this painting.

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