plate no. 8555

General Jackson after the Battle of New Orleans

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryclothingcannonpaper

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 atmospheric perspective and creating depth through value and color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and cannon.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes, creating a sense of atmosphere and depth.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the fall of light and shadow.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, adding folds and textures with visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Render the cannon with attention to its form and texture, using darker values to create depth.
step 07
Add highlights to the figure and cannon to create a sense of light and form.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and colors to unify the painting and enhance the overall mood.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre and a touch of umber. Dark clothing is achieved by mixing black, umber and a touch of blue. Background is achieved by mixing umber, sienna, and white.

techniques