plate no. 3278

Gulian Verplanck

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigureclothingchairbooksmale

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations for realistic skin tones, as well as rendering of fabrics and textures.

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, chair, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: skin, clothing, background, and chair.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle value changes and highlights.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds, buttons, and lace.
step 06
Refine the background and chair, adding details and adjusting values as needed.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, a touch of red, and a small amount of blue or green for shadows. The teal jacket is achieved by mixing blue with a touch of green and white. The background is a mix of browns and blacks.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·value studies
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
→Overly saturated or unnatural skin tones.
→Lack of depth in the background.
→Insufficient blending of colors.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags