plate no. 5325

Berkeley George Andrew

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfigurerobeclothingmanformal

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 depicting complex textures and fabrics.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the large shapes of the robe, clothing, and background.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the face and hands, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin refining the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, using subtle color variations.
step 05
Add details to the robe, including the gold trim and decorative elements, using a fine brush.
step 06
Develop the texture of the fabric by layering thin washes of color and using dry brush techniques.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in tone to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the focal point is the face.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending raw sienna, burnt umber, and white. Use small amounts of red and blue to adjust the warmth and coolness of the skin. Create the red robe by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt umber and black for shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much paint and losing the subtle variations in color.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, ivory black, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags