plate no. 4373

John D. Binns

William Logsdail, 1918

oilRealismportraitportraitmansuitprofilefacial hair

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and suit on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and clothing, focusing on value relationships.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows that define the form.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair and beard, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Work on the suit, using darker values to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add highlights to the collar and tie to create contrast.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Darken the suit with ivory black and raw umber, adding small amounts of blue for depth. Use white to lighten the beard and collar.

techniques

·portrait painting
·value study
·blending
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overly harsh or unnatural skin tones.
→Lack of depth and dimension in the suit.
→Ignoring subtle variations in value and color.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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