plate no. 2174
George Granville Leveson-Gower
Thomas Lawrence, 1800
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting helps develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in blending and creating subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
5
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and red.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
- step 05
Paint the hair, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
- step 06
Block in the dark areas of the clothing, gradually adding highlights and details.
- step 07
Paint the white collar, focusing on the subtle folds and shadows.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by blending white, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium red. Use ivory black to darken values and yellow ochre to add warmth.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·value study
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Creating harsh lines and edges.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paint.
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