plate no. 4117

Joshua Walmsley Radcliffe, Mayor of Oldham

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureclothingbeardchainuniform

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict textures in clothing and accessories.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background and clothing using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up the skin tones on the face, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the beard and hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the uniform, including the chain, belt, and cuffs.
step 06
Refine the background and add any remaining details, such as the objects on the table.
step 07
Glaze layers to unify the painting and adjust color values.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · red · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · gold · silver · payne's gray

Mix various shades of red by adding small amounts of black or brown. Achieve skin tones by blending white, red, yellow, and brown. Create gold tones by mixing yellow ochre with burnt sienna and a touch of black.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unrealistic.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (red, ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, payne's gray)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags