plate no. 4337

Colin, 3rd Earl of Balcarres

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothingcrowndraperyhistorical

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice in depicting complex fabrics and textures.

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, focusing on the head, torso, and limbs.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown, leaving the figure area untouched.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, clothing, and drapery, using simplified values.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the drapery to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Paint the crown, focusing on the details of the gold and jewels.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the red of the robe by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt umber for shadows and white for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·fabric rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
→Inaccurate skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, cadmium red, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife