plate no. 5654
Young Man
John Currin, 1992
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in simplifying forms and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive image.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure onto the canvas.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin layer of green, allowing some canvas texture to show through.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing using simplified shapes.
- step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of ochre, red, and white.
- step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on capturing the subtle nuances of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Develop the form of the clothing, paying attention to the way light and shadow define the folds and creases.
- step 07
Refine the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest texture and volume.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced.
color palette
primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Achieve the blue of the shirt by mixing ultramarine blue with a touch of black and white.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·portraiture
- ·simplification
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and unnatural.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints (viridian green, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, ivory black)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas with a neutral color can be helpful.
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