plate no. 7963
Constantine Henry Phipps (1797–1863), 1st Marquess of Normanby
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's proportions and pose.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral tone.
- step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing.
- step 04
Begin layering skin tones, focusing on subtle color variations in the highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
- step 07
Add highlights and details to the hair.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and values.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber for darker shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·value study
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details before establishing the overall form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth and luminosity of the colors.
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