plate no. 5934

G. A. Berry, Mayor of Salisbury

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingchainformal wear

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex details like the mayoral chain.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, clothing, and chain, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Carefully render the chain, paying attention to the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the face and clothing to enhance realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a smooth finish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, umber, and ochre. The gold chain is created by layering yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and touches of white for highlights.

techniques