plate no. 2397

James Kent

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as blending and layering techniques to create smooth transitions and subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt sienna and gradually build up the darker areas.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, using a limited palette of flesh tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery.
step 06
Add details to the hair and collar.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix flesh tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt sienna and black for the dark clothing, adding small amounts of blue to deepen the shadows. Create the background by blending burnt sienna with varying amounts of white to achieve the desired gradient.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·value study
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the face.
→Overly harsh or muddy colors.
→Lack of smooth transitions between values.
→Ignoring the subtle nuances of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (burnt sienna, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags