plate no. 5020

James Cox, Lord Provost of Dundee

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanbeardclothingchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 03
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value to create a realistic effect.
step 04
Add details to the clothing, such as the buttons, pocket square, and chain, using small brushstrokes.
step 05
Work on the beard, using a combination of light and dark tones to create texture and volume.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and value to create depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism of the painting.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, burnt sienna, raw umber, and a touch of cadmium red light. Achieve darker values by adding ivory black or burnt umber. Use yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones.

techniques