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The shy sitter by William Henry Hunt

plate no. 5838

The shy sitter

William Henry Hunt, 1840

watercolor, paperNaturalismportraitportraitfiguregirlchairclothingindoor
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and subtle expressions, as well as layering watercolor washes to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.

  2. step 02

    Apply a thin wash of diluted brown or gray to establish the background tone.

  3. step 03

    Begin layering washes of color on the face, focusing on the subtle variations in skin tone.

  4. step 04

    Paint the hair with light yellow and brown washes, allowing the paper to show through for highlights.

  5. step 05

    Add the details of the clothing, using darker washes to create shadows and folds.

  6. step 06

    Refine the features of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.

  7. step 07

    Add final details to the chair and background, adjusting values as needed.

  8. step 08

    Let dry completely and add final touches to enhance contrast and details.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · payne's gray

Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the skin tones, adding white for highlights and alizarin crimson for the cheeks. Use ultramarine blue and white for the clothing stripes. Mix payne's gray with white for the background.

techniques

  • ·watercolor washes
  • ·dry brushing
  • ·layering
  • ·glazing
  • ·portraiture

common pitfalls

  • →Overworking the details too early
  • →Using too much water and losing control of the washes
  • →Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone
  • →Not paying attention to the proportions of the face

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

  • ·watercolor paints
  • ·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
  • ·watercolor paper (140lb cold press)
  • ·palette
  • ·water container
  • ·paper towels
  • ·pencil
  • ·eraser

optional

  • ·masking fluid
  • ·kneaded eraser
  • ·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paints for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve different effects.

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