plate no. 3569

Portrait of Ralph Howard, Later 1st Viscount Wicklow

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigureclothingfurpaperdesk

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the fur collar and ruffled cuffs.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Render the hands and the paper, paying attention to the folds and creases.
step 07
Paint the desk and writing implements, adding subtle details.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red ochre, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use burnt umber and ivory black for shadows and fur, and add ultramarine blue to darken the reds.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·blending
·rendering fabrics

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure
→Muddy skin tones
→Overly harsh shadows
→Lack of detail in the clothing

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (red ochre, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw sienna, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags