plate no. 0725

Portrait of John Everett Millais

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurehairclothingoval background

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in layering colors with dry media and capturing likeness through careful observation of proportions and values. It also provides practice in creating soft edges and subtle transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval background and the basic proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main shapes of the hair, face, and clothing with light pencil lines.
step 03
Begin layering the darkest values with charcoal or dark pastel, focusing on the hair and shadows.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones using brown, gray, and flesh-toned pastels, blending softly.
step 05
Add highlights with white or light-colored pastels, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using sharp pastel pencils.
step 07
Add color to the clothing, blending the colors softly to create subtle variations.
step 08
Soften edges and blend colors with a blending stump or finger to create a smooth, atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · flesh tone

secondary · Prussian blue · crimson · yellow ochre

Mix flesh tones by blending white, burnt umber, and a touch of crimson or yellow ochre. Achieve the blue of the shirt by layering Prussian blue and white.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·blending
·layering
·softening edges

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the softness of the original.
→Using too much pressure and creating harsh lines.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
→Not blending the colors sufficiently, resulting in a choppy or uneven appearance.