plate no. 8836

The Son of the Artist

Philip de Laszlo, 1917

oilImpressionismportraitportraitchildgoldfishfishbowltabledoll

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, capturing light and shadow, and rendering transparent objects like the fishbowl. It also provides practice in depicting various textures and details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, dark tones, leaving space for the figure and objects.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the child's face and clothing, paying attention to skin tones and shadows.
step 04
Paint the fishbowl, using layers of transparent colors to create the illusion of glass and water.
step 05
Add the goldfish, focusing on its shape and color within the water.
step 06
Paint the doll and the beads, capturing their details and textures.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the entire painting, ensuring a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber for the dark background.

techniques