plate no. 8051

Augustus John, third Earl of Briston

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureseashipclothingsky

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the figure, ship, and basic landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the background sky and sea with broad washes of color, focusing on atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure's clothing with base colors.
step 04
Develop the facial features and skin tones, paying attention to subtle value changes.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the gold trim and buttons.
step 06
Refine the background elements, adding details to the ship and waves.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of beige and cream by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the darker tones in the clothing by mixing ivory black with raw umber and a touch of blue.

techniques