plate no. 0902

John Lake (1624-1689)

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothingframemalehistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It will also provide practice in painting drapery and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and frame.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, clothing, and frame.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to values and highlights.
step 05
Develop the drapery, creating folds and shadows to give it form.
step 06
Add details to the frame, such as the carved elements.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of brown and gray using the primary colors to create the skin tones, background, and frame. Use white to create highlights and red to add warmth to the skin.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details before establishing the overall values.
→Using too much paint and losing the subtle gradations.
→Ignoring the importance of reflected light.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round, flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife