plate no. 3486

Portrait De Cyril Flower, Lord Battersea

chalk, paperRomanticismportraitportraitmandogfoliagebeardclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures, as well as understanding subtle value changes to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes: head, shoulders, dog, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the paper with a light wash or base layer.
step 03
Begin blocking in the darkest values in the hair, beard, clothing, and dog's fur.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value on the face and hands.
step 05
Refine the details of the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Add highlights to create a sense of form and dimension.
step 07
Develop the background foliage, using a variety of greens and browns to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and refine the details, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · sap green

Mix raw umber and ivory black for the dark tones. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the warm skin tones, and add titanium white for highlights. Mix sap green with raw umber and yellow ochre for the foliage.

techniques

·blending
·hatching
·scumbling
·value layering
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Failing to establish a strong value structure
→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch
→Uneven blending resulting in a muddy appearance

materials

surface · toned paper

required

·toned paper
·graphite pencils
·charcoal pencils
·kneaded eraser
·blending stumps
·soft pastels

optional

·fixative spray
·palette knife
·ruler

Choose a toned paper that is slightly warm in color to match the original artwork. Soft pastels can be used to add subtle color variations and highlights.

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