plate no. 5847

Portait of Fraunces, Beatrice, James, and Synfye

Frank Cadogan Cowper, 1919

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitfigureschildrendogcarpetclothingportrait

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 and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures and dog.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral tone.
step 03
Begin layering in the basic skin tones of the figures, focusing on accurate color mixing.
step 04
Develop the details of the faces, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the clothing, capturing the folds and highlights of the fabric.
step 06
Add the details of the dog, focusing on its fur and features.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details, such as the carpet pattern.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for shadows. Mix white with a touch of yellow ochre and red for the white clothing.

techniques