plate no. 8368

George Gurnett

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingchairformal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 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
Block in the background with a dark, muted color, establishing the overall value range.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and creases to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Add details to the hair and clothing, such as highlights and textures.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a harmonious and balanced composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark clothing, adding small amounts of white for highlights.

techniques