plate no. 8784

Charles Beale

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfigurehatclothingmale

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle blending of skin tones. It also offers practice in rendering fabrics and textures with a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's outline and main features, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of dark brown.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a mix of white, red, yellow, and brown.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, focusing on highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Paint the hat and clothing, using darker shades of brown and red to define folds and shadows.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes.
step 07
Refine the edges and details of the figure, blending where necessary.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by carefully mixing white, red, yellow, and brown. Vary the proportions to create different shades and highlights. The clothing is primarily a mix of burnt umber and cadmium red, with small amounts of white for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.
→Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Using too much paint, leading to a muddy effect.
→Neglecting the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels