plate no. 4301

Portrait of Deceased Captain Seymour Jacob Henry Van Den Bergh

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremilitary uniformhatlandscapeman

some experience helpful

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. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the main areas of color with thin washes.
step 03
Focus on the face, building up layers of color to create realistic skin tones and capture the likeness.
step 04
Develop the details of the uniform, paying attention to the folds, buttons, and straps.
step 05
Add the background, blending the colors to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 06
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Pay close attention to the edges, softening them where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

primary · olive green · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve the olive green by mixing cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Skin tones are created by blending titanium white, raw sienna, alizarin crimson, and a small amount of ultramarine blue.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (olive green, burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags