plate no. 3744

Vera

Frederick Varley, 1931

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly achieving subtle skin tones and capturing light and shadow with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in portrait composition and capturing a likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, mixing subtle variations of color for highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 05
Add the background colors, using loose brushstrokes to create depth.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall composition.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white, adjusting the proportions to create highlights and shadows. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create cooler shadows. Mix viridian green with white and yellow ochre for the background.

techniques

·color mixing
·blocking in
·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Focusing too much on details early on, before establishing the overall value structure.
→Getting the proportions wrong, leading to an inaccurate likeness.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.