plate no. 7744

Portrait of Simon Charles Miger

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingbookneutral background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle value gradations for skin tones, and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a realistic likeness and capturing a subject's expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of muted brown, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows. Pay close attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery. Use darker values for the shadows and lighter values for the highlights.
step 05
Render the hair with loose, flowing strokes, capturing the texture and volume.
step 06
Paint the book, paying attention to the details of the cover and the pages.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth. Capture the subject's expression and likeness.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism of the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. The background is primarily raw umber and ivory black. The clothing is a mix of ivory black and titanium white, with subtle variations in value.

techniques

·Underpainting
·Layering
·Blending
·Glazing
·Chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions
→Overblending skin tones
→Failing to capture the subject's likeness
→Ignoring subtle value gradations

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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