plate no. 9320

John Wilkinson

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportion and subtle color mixing for skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering clothing and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red.
step 04
Begin to build up the values in the face, adding shadows and highlights to define the form.
step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and wrinkles to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights to the hair and clothing to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Shadows are created by adding burnt umber and a touch of black. The clothing is primarily black and grey, with subtle variations in value.

techniques