plate no. 2140
Jane Breathitt Sappington
George Caleb Bingham, 1834
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and creating a sense of depth through value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values of the background, clothing, and face.
- step 03
Mix skin tones using a limited palette and apply them to the face, building up layers of color and value.
- step 04
Carefully render the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures of the fabric.
- step 06
Render the lace details of the headwear and collar, using fine brushes and light colors.
- step 07
Add the small floral pattern on the collar.
- step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Dark areas are created by adding black and umber. The lace is primarily white with subtle gray shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Making the lace look flat and lifeless.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle value changes in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) is recommended.
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