plate no. 5796

William H. Taft

Anders Zorn, 1911

lithography, paperRealismportraitportraitfiguremanchairsuitinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It will also improve their understanding of light and shadow in creating form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the larger areas of the suit and skin.
step 03
Focus on establishing the correct values and color temperatures in the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 05
Refine the details of the suit and chair, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Add the background details and adjust the overall composition as needed.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and create subtle transitions.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones using white, burnt umber, raw sienna, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black for the suit, adding white for highlights. Create the background with ultramarine blue, ivory black, and yellow ochre.

techniques