plate no. 0713

George III

oilRococoportraitportraitfigurearmorshipsearoyal robe

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as practicing the depiction of complex textures like metal and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the background with thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the face, focusing on subtle transitions in value and hue.
step 05
Develop the armor, paying close attention to the reflections and highlights.
step 06
Paint the royal robe, capturing the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 07
Add details to the ships in the background, using smaller brushes.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding final details.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · viridian

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Create the armor's metallic sheen by layering grays and whites with subtle hints of blue and brown.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·rendering metal

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the reflective qualities of the armor.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the fabric.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, viridian)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags