plate no. 7318
Mrs. David Steele Lamme and Son, William Wirt
George Caleb Bingham, 1837
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also offers practice in depicting fabrics and simple landscape elements.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of figures.
- step 02
Block in the background colors, including the wall, window, and drapery.
- step 03
Establish the main skin tones for the mother and child, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 04
Begin layering the clothing, starting with the darker values and gradually adding highlights.
- step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle details.
- step 06
Add details to the landscape visible through the window.
- step 07
Render the fabric textures and folds in the clothing and drapery.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and realism.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the green of the dress by mixing blue and yellow with white for highlights.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures
- →Overly harsh blending, resulting in a flat appearance
- →Inaccurate skin tones
- →Neglecting subtle details in the facial features
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (for glazing)
- ·varnish
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned ground to help establish values.
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