plate no. 2251

Portrait of an oriental

oilAcademicismportraitfigureportraitarchitectureweaponclothingornament

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practicing detailed architectural and ornamental painting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the figure's pose and the placement of architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of turquoise and begin blocking in the main shapes of the ornamental details.
step 03
Roughly block in the figure's skin tones, clothing, and the red sash, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Refine the architectural details, including the column and the ornamental patterns on the wall, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the figure's clothing and weapon, paying attention to texture and highlights.
step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value relationships to create a cohesive and balanced painting.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the figure and background.

color palette

primary · turquoise · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix various shades of turquoise by combining blue, green, and white. Achieve skin tones by blending raw umber, white, and small amounts of red and yellow ochre.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Inaccurate proportions in the figure's anatomy.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Mixing muddy or dull colors.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: titanium white, ivory black, raw umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, turquoise, sap green
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil