plate no. 3474

A Portrait of Former Baylor University President, William Carey Crane

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurebookbuildingslandscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in the background landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and book.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with broad strokes, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the head, torso, and hands.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Render the book, focusing on the texture of the pages and the play of light and shadow.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the portrait, refining the overall composition.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create depth.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the dark tones of the suit by mixing ivory black and raw umber. Create atmospheric perspective in the background by adding ultramarine blue to the raw umber and burnt sienna.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·value studies
·blending

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
→Using too much black, resulting in a muddy appearance.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, cadmium red light
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags