plate no. 7412
Connop Thirlwall, Bishop of St David's
Frank Holl, 1865
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and expressing character through subtle variations in tone and brushwork. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form using a limited color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thinned paint.
- step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value that define the planes of the face.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, using loose brushstrokes to suggest texture and form.
- step 05
Work on the hands, carefully observing the shapes and proportions.
- step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
- step 07
Add final highlights and details to enhance the sense of realism and depth.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
Achieve the subtle skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt sienna and yellow ochre. Use raw umber and black to create the dark tones in the clothing and background.
techniques
- ·grisaille underpainting
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the figure.
- →Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in value that define the form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for a good balance between detail and texture. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base value.
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