plate no. 7256
Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere using a limited color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the subject's proportions and pose.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the shadows and mid-tones.
- step 04
Begin building up the form of the face, using small, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle value changes in the skin tones.
- step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add the highlights and final touches to the hair and clothing.
- step 08
Adjust the background to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones using burnt umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white, with small touches of cadmium red for warmth. Darken shadows with ivory black and burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue to cool down shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using too much color in the skin tones.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned ground to speed up the painting process.
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