plate no. 6810

Portrait of John C. Calhoun

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingformal wearhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in creating realistic skin tones and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in achieving subtle gradations of light and shadow to create form.

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 using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, layering thin glazes of color to create depth and realism.
step 04
Define the features of the face, paying close attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Render the clothing, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the details of the hair, eyes, and mouth, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a harmonious and unified composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of cadmium red. Dark areas are created by adding ivory black and ultramarine blue to the base colors.

techniques

·glazing
·blending
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Getting caught up in details before establishing the overall form.
→Using too much paint, resulting in a thick and overworked surface.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags