plate no. 5734

Charles Mathews

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in glazing and scumbling techniques to create depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, hair, clothing, and background.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending colors, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 05
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes and careful observation.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the clothing and hair to create form and dimension.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color over the painting to unify the composition and enhance the depth.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the dark clothing with ivory black and umber. The background is a mix of umber, white, and a touch of red.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·value studies
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations in value.
→Failing to accurately capture the likeness of the subject.
→Creating harsh lines and edges instead of soft transitions.
→Not paying enough attention to the overall value structure of the painting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags