plate no. 0845

John Stirling (1811–1882)

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a canvas with a mid-tone ground (e.g., burnt umber wash).
step 02
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and placement of the figure.
step 03
Block in the main areas of dark and light, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the planes of the face and subtle value shifts.
step 05
Develop the clothing and background, maintaining a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 06
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create a focal point.
step 07
Refine details and adjust values as needed to achieve a likeness and sense of realism.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use black and umber for shadows, and white and ochre for highlights. Mix black with a touch of red to create the darks in the clothing.

techniques

·portraiture
·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating harsh lines or edges.
→Failing to capture the subtle value shifts in the face.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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