plate no. 2784

Jean Terford David

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryclothingmalebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and textures, and creating depth through layering and blending.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of muted browns and grays.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Develop the skin tones, layering thin washes of color to create subtle variations.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Paint the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Darken colors with burnt umber and black. Create subtle variations by adding small amounts of other colors.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
→Creating harsh lines or edges, rather than soft transitions.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·flat brushes (#6, #8)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·palette knife