plate no. 8117

Edward Greene

oilRomanticismportraitportraitdogfigurechairinteriorclothing

experienced study

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 light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure, dog, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color, focusing on the overall light and shadow patterns.
step 03
Begin refining the details of the face, paying close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone and the rendering of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the form of the dog, using layers of paint to build up the fur texture and capture the animal's expression.
step 05
Work on the clothing, chair, and background elements, gradually adding details and refining the values to create depth and atmosphere.
step 06
Pay attention to the textures of the different materials, such as the fabric of the clothing, the wood of the chair, and the fur of the dog.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms and create a sense of realism.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and ivory black for shadows. Mix ultramarine blue with burnt sienna to create dark, neutral tones for the background and clothing.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·fur rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure or dog wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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