plate no. 3380

A gentleman in a brown coat and stock

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion, likeness, and rendering of skin tones and clothing folds. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form using subtle value changes.

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 head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Work on the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ivory black mixed with burnt umber for the dark background and shadows in the clothing.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·value studies
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and form.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes in the skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags or paper towels