plate no. 8172

John Dickinson

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanchairbeardclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering of skin tones, and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and textures.

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 figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, chair, and hands, including folds, textures, and highlights.
step 06
Work on the beard, using layering and dry brush techniques to create texture.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the darks in the clothing by mixing black and umber. Use white to create highlights and lighten the colors.

techniques