plate no. 1618
The Student
Gwen John, 1903
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating subtle skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and textures with muted colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the books.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the background, the dress, the skin tones, and the table.
- step 03
Start refining the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
- step 04
Develop the texture of the dress by layering thin washes of color and adding small details.
- step 05
Add details to the books, including the title and the edges of the pages.
- step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in tone and texture.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson
Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of the secondary colors. Use white to lighten the values and black to darken them. For skin tones, mix white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to capture the subtle shifts in value and color.
- →Ignoring the importance of the background in creating atmosphere.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a canvas with a smooth surface to allow for subtle blending and glazing. Consider using a toned ground to create a more unified color palette.
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