plate no. 3976

James and Mary Shuttleworth with One of Their Daughters

oil, canvasBaroquelandscapefiguresfamilydoginteriorclothingstill life

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, fabric rendering, and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in depicting complex clothing details and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and objects, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, focusing on the overall tonal values.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures' clothing and skin tones.
step 04
Begin refining the details of the faces, using subtle shading to create form.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as folds, lace, and buttons, using small brushes.
step 06
Paint the dog and the still life elements, paying attention to their textures and forms.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows throughout the painting to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the blue-gray tones by mixing ultramarine blue with burnt umber and white. Create the red coat by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt umber.

techniques