plate no. 1195

John Whitehurst

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanlandscapevolcanowriting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in the background landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure with mid-tone browns and grays.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows on the face.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and hands, focusing on the folds and wrinkles.
step 06
Paint the landscape in the background, using lighter tones to create a sense of distance.
step 07
Refine the details of the face and hair, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, a touch of red, and a small amount of blue or burnt umber for shadows. Create atmospheric perspective in the background by adding white to the colors to lighten and desaturate them.

techniques