plate no. 9736

David Gill

George Henry, 1912

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanbookstableclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and form using 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 composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and table.
step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones, gradually building up layers of color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall form and pose.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create a sense of depth.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and form.
step 06
Paint the hands, paying close attention to the bone structure and subtle variations in skin tone.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the overall composition.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and burnt sienna. Use ivory black and raw umber to create the dark background and clothing, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.

techniques