plate no. 5514
John Pettie, Artist
James Archer, 1891
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in using visible brushstrokes to create texture and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using a limited palette.
- step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending subtle variations of pink, yellow, and brown.
- step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to their shape and placement.
- step 06
Define the beard and hair with short, directional brushstrokes.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red light
secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by combining white, red, yellow, and a touch of brown. Use blue and black to create shadows and grays for the clothing.
techniques
- ·portrait sketching
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·directional brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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