plate no. 7403

Portrait of Paul Wayland Bartlett

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingsuitprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle color mixing for skin tones, and rendering realistic clothing folds. It also provides practice in creating a soft, atmospheric background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted browns and grays, creating a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle color variations to create form and light.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Refine the details of the hands and cigarette.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of blue. The gray suit is created by mixing white, black, and a small amount of blue or brown.

techniques

·portraiture
·grisaille underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Creating harsh or unnatural shadows.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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