plate no. 7449
John Brinkley, Astronomer Royal of Ireland
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as practice blending and layering to achieve realistic skin tones and fabric textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 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 umber and red.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery.
- step 06
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the background and edges to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix various shades of skin tone by combining white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ivory black sparingly to create shadows and dark tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·value control
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much black, which can make the painting look muddy.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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