plate no. 5156

King George V

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacemustache

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using a limited palette to create subtle variations in skin tone and form. It also provides practice in loose, expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and placement of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of raw umber and ochre.
step 03
Block in the main areas of shadow and light on the face and clothing using a mix of browns, reds, and white.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair, mustache, and clothing, using small, deliberate brushstrokes.
step 06
Introduce subtle color variations to the skin tones, using a mix of reds, yellows, and blues.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors where necessary to create a sense of form and depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt sienna, raw umber, and cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the skin tones in shadow areas.

techniques