plate no. 9722

John Lee (d.1809), and His Family

oilRococoportraitportraitfamilychildrenfiguresrosesdrapery

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including rendering realistic skin tones and capturing likenesses. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and drapery with subtle shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the background colors, starting with the darkest areas and gradually adding lighter tones.
step 03
Establish the main values on the faces, using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin to develop the forms of the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and drapery, using subtle variations in color and tone.
step 07
Paint the roses, capturing their delicate petals and soft colors.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and titanium white, with small amounts of burnt umber and ultramarine blue for shadows. Achieve the rose colors by mixing cadmium red light with titanium white and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figures
→Overly harsh or flat skin tones
→Lack of depth in the drapery
→Inaccurate color mixing

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, raw sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags