plate no. 2646

Inigo Jones

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothingbeardpaper

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. Students can also develop skills in depicting fabric and creating subtle gradations of light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes, focusing on the subtle color variations.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the head, torso, and hands, using simplified values.
step 04
Start refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, capturing the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Render the hands and the paper, focusing on accurate anatomy and subtle value changes.
step 07
Add highlights and details to the hair and beard, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue for subtle variations. Use cadmium yellow to create highlights and warmth.

techniques

·Blending
·Layering
·Scumbling
·Chiaroscuro
·Portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unrealistic.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in color temperature.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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