plate no. 1335

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Jose Higuera, 2013

oil, canvasRealismgenre paintingfigurechildcatflowerspillowfabric

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, capturing light and shadow on skin tones, and rendering realistic textures of fabric and fur.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of blended browns and ochres.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure, cat, and objects.
step 04
Develop the skin tones using layers of thin glazes, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the cat's fur, using small brushstrokes and varying values.
step 06
Refine the fabric folds and textures, paying attention to how light interacts with the material.
step 07
Paint the flowers and leaves, capturing their vibrant colors and delicate forms.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Achieve the background browns by blending burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white. Use ultramarine blue and white for the shirt.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·chiaroscuro
·rendering fur

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tones.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall values and composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, sap green)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels