plate no. 1942

The Two Up Game (Portrait of Ermes De Zan)

Jeffrey Smart, 2006

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitcontainersfiguresskygroundclouds

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in realistic portraiture, perspective, and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering complex shapes and textures with subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of the figure, containers, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points to accurately depict the perspective of the containers and ground.
step 03
Block in the main color areas of the sky, ground, containers, and figure with thin washes of color.
step 04
Develop the tonal values in the sky, creating depth and atmospheric perspective with layers of blended colors.
step 05
Refine the colors and details of the containers, paying attention to the subtle variations in hue and value.
step 06
Work on the portrait, building up the form with layers of color and shading, focusing on accurate proportions and likeness.
step 07
Add details to the figures in the background, suggesting their forms and actions with simplified brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the realism and depth of the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green · cadmium orange

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. The sky requires careful blending of blues, grays, and whites to create atmospheric depth. The containers use a range of earth tones and muted colors, achieved by mixing primary colors with umber and white.

techniques