plate no. 3330

John Richard Pickmere, Mayor of Warrington

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureclothingfurchairjewelry

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also offers practice in depicting textures like fur and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and areas of color, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 03
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the fur trim and jewelry.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the background and any other details in the composition.
step 07
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.
step 08
Let dry and varnish.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt sienna, and a touch of yellow ochre and alizarin crimson. Use raw umber and ivory black for dark areas and shadows. Mix yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the gold details.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Creating muddy or dull colors.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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