plate no. 7377
Portrait of George Gage with Two Attendants
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also offers practice in depicting drapery and complex lighting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes, indicating the columns and landscape.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for each figure, paying attention to the overall value structure.
- step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using layers of thin glazes to build up depth and luminosity.
- step 05
Develop the drapery, focusing on the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
- step 06
Add details to the faces, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of each figure.
- step 07
Refine the background and foreground, adding details to the columns and landscape.
- step 08
Apply final glazes and highlights to unify the painting and enhance the overall effect.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use thin glazes of umber and black to create shadows in the drapery.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
- ·drapery study
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the figures.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial stages of painting.
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