plate no. 3339
Untitled Portrait
Nuri Iyem, 1996
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing to achieve skin tones, and layering techniques to build depth and form. It also encourages exploration of unconventional color palettes in portrait painting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the face, headscarf, and clothing.
- step 02
Block in the background with dark browns and blacks, allowing some canvas texture to show.
- step 03
Apply a base layer of blue and purple tones to the face, establishing the overall cool color scheme.
- step 04
Add highlights to the face using lighter shades of blue, purple, and pink, focusing on the nose, forehead, and cheeks.
- step 05
Paint the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth with browns and reds, paying attention to their shapes and placement.
- step 06
Render the headscarf with black and grey, adding small white dots for detail.
- step 07
Paint the clothing with a mix of browns and golds, using short, visible brushstrokes.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre
Mix ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson to create the purple skin tones. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre for the clothing and background. Add titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·color layering
- ·visible brushstrokes
- ·portrait sketching
- ·color mixing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
- →Incorrectly proportioning the facial features.
- →Using too much detail, which can detract from the overall impression.
- →Not capturing the subtle variations in skin tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre)
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting apron
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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