plate no. 9487

Benjamin Truman

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigurelandscapetreesskyclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering clothing folds, as well as landscape painting techniques for creating depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the figure's pose and the basic landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, landscape, and figure using thin washes.
step 03
Develop the sky with layers of blended blues, grays, and whites, paying attention to cloud formations.
step 04
Refine the landscape by adding details to the trees, foliage, and distant buildings.
step 05
Focus on the figure, building up layers of color to define the form and clothing folds.
step 06
Pay close attention to the light source and create highlights and shadows accordingly.
step 07
Add details to the face, hands, and clothing, capturing the likeness and textures.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition, ensuring a harmonious balance of colors and values.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and red for the clothing and landscape. Use white to create highlights and lighten colors. Mix blue and white for the sky.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
→Neglecting the atmospheric perspective in the landscape.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife