plate no. 0680

Captain Arthur Forbes

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and rendering skin tones and fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and features.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and red, creating a warm, dark tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with light and shadow, using a limited palette of white, yellow ochre, and burnt sienna.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth. Use subtle value changes to create form and depth.
step 05
Paint the hair with loose, flowing strokes, using a mix of white, gray, and yellow ochre.
step 06
Block in the dark areas of the coat and the white of the cravat, establishing the overall value contrast.
step 07
Add details to the clothing, such as the buttons and folds of the fabric.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors, ensuring that the painting has a sense of unity and harmony.

color palette

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

secondary · ivory black · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Darker tones are created by adding burnt umber or black. The background is a blend of burnt umber and red, thinned with medium.

techniques

·portraiture
·value studies
·blending
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to establish a strong value contrast.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife