plate no. 9364

The Look out

oilRealismportraitfigurewindowharborboatswatersky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as painting atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the figure and the window.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure.
step 03
Refine the values and colors in the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 04
Begin to develop the form of the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the face, hands, and clothing, capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting, creating a sense of realism.
step 07
Add highlights and final touches to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Let dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of blue and gray for the water and sky. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre with white to create skin tones. Add small amounts of red for warmth.

techniques

·alla prima
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Not creating enough depth in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags