plate no. 8865
Benjamin Whichcote
Mary Beale, 1682
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
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and frame.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, and background.
- step 04
Develop the skin tones with layers of subtle color variations, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
- step 06
Add details to the hair, using thin brushstrokes to create individual strands.
- step 07
Paint the frame, using a variety of warm browns and highlights to create depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ivory black for the dark clothing, adding small amounts of blue to deepen the shadows. Create the background with a mix of raw umber, burnt sienna, and white.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·value control
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
- →Getting lost in details before establishing the overall form.
- →Using too much paint, resulting in a thick, overworked surface.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grit canvas will provide a good surface for blending and layering.
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