plate no. 4774

Bogumil Dawison as Richard III

oilRomanticismportraitportraitmancrownrobefigurehistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering textures like fabric and gold. It also provides practice in creating depth and dimension through value and color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, crown, and robe.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted brown tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, robe, crown, and red accents.
step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the crown, including the jewels and intricate gold work.
step 06
Develop the folds and textures of the robe, using darker values in the shadows.
step 07
Paint the gold embroidery on the robe with careful attention to detail.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve gold tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium yellow. Darken colors with burnt umber and black.

techniques

·portrait painting
·chiaroscuro
·dry brushing
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Making the gold too bright and unrealistic.
→Failing to create enough depth in the shadows.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags