plate no. 4119

Portrait of King William IV (1765-1837)

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingroyalhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and rendering realistic skin tones and fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle value gradations to model form and create depth.

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 to establish the basic proportions and pose of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 03
Develop the values in the face, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 04
Refine the details of the clothing, including the folds, buttons, and embellishments.
step 05
Add the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Work on the hair, using short, broken strokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black for the dark clothing, adding blue for depth. Mix red and white for the subtle blush on the cheeks.

techniques

·portraiture
·value studies
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong, leading to an inaccurate likeness.
→Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Inaccurate skin tone mixing

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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