plate no. 1199
John Francis Ure
James Archer, 1884
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 creating depth and form through subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and areas of color, starting with the background and large areas of clothing.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones on the face and hands, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle value changes.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, including folds, textures, and subtle highlights.
- step 06
Refine the background, adding depth and atmosphere with subtle color variations.
- step 07
Paint the table and any other details, paying attention to their texture and form.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by blending white, sienna, umber, and a touch of red. Achieve dark tones by layering black and umber. Use white to create highlights.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·value study
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating muddy or flat skin tones.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and improve flow.
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