plate no. 4518

Philip, Fourth Lord Wharton

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothingdraperylandscapestaff

experienced study

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 folds and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to build up the form of the face, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the drapery, focusing on the folds and how they interact with the light.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, hair, and background.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Create the golden drapery by mixing yellow ochre with burnt umber and white, glazing with cadmium yellow for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·drapery study

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth.
→Not paying attention to the way light interacts with the fabric.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (ivory black, yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, viridian)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags