plate no. 1143

Elijah Brush

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingbookhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as understanding of light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, starting with the background and large areas of clothing.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the face and hands, using thin layers of paint.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the folds in the fabric and the buttons.
step 06
Paint the book, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Blend and refine the transitions between colors and values.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use small amounts of yellow ochre and cadmium red light to warm the skin tones. Add ultramarine blue to darken shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags