plate no. 1099

Portrait of Edmund Lodge

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure, focusing on the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the skin, hair, and clothing, using thin washes.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the clothing and background to create depth.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall effect.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use ivory black thinned with medium for the background. Create highlights in the hair with white and a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·value studies
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Losing the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife