plate no. 5224

Councillor W. Edgar, JP

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfigurefurchainclothingman

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering textures like fur and metal. It also provides practice in creating depth and form through subtle value changes.

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 and composition.
step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, fur, and clothing.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the texture of the fur using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the chain and pendant, using highlights to create a metallic effect.
step 07
Refine the clothing and hands, adding subtle folds and wrinkles.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and values.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve the fur color by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and small amounts of yellow ochre and white. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue for the dark clothing. Mix white with small amounts of red, yellow, and blue to create realistic skin tones.

techniques

·portraiture
·fur rendering
·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the fur texture, making it look unnatural.
→Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags