plate no. 2576

Portrait of William Burton Conyngham

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigureclothingmalefacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate skin tone mixing and rendering of fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of light and shadow to model form.

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 and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash, focusing on the overall tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, clothing, and background.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions and model the form of the face.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Refine the hair, adding individual strands and highlights to create texture.
step 07
Add the details of the lace and other embellishments.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · alizarin crimson

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber. The red cloak is a mix of red, umber, and a touch of black. The background is a muted mix of umber, black, and white.

techniques

·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·modeling
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and color that create form.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall composition and values.