plate no. 4619

Ames Guthrie Orchar, Provost of Broughty Ferry

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingbeardhand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown, leaving lighter areas where the light hits the figure.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with mid-tones, paying attention to the planes of the face.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Paint the clothing with broad strokes, focusing on the folds and drapery.
step 06
Add details to the beard and hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the hand, paying attention to the knuckles and fingernails.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ivory black for the dark clothing and background, adjusting the values with white.

techniques