plate no. 7111

Master Coleridge Hills

William Logsdail, 1910

oilRealismportraitportraitchildchaircarpetclothinginterior

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 fabric textures and folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle color variations and highlights.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures of the velvet fabric.
step 05
Paint the chair, capturing its intricate details and the way light reflects off its surface.
step 06
Render the carpet, simplifying the pattern and focusing on the overall color harmony.
step 07
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · alizarin crimson · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · viridian

Achieve the velvet color by mixing alizarin crimson with raw umber and a touch of ivory black. Use yellow ochre and titanium white for highlights on the skin and clothing.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness.
→Failing to capture the texture of the velvet.
→Making the carpet too detailed and distracting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (alizarin crimson, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, ivory black, viridian)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags