plate no. 2650
Portrait Study
George Folingsby, 1875
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing skin tones and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's outline and main features.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of neutral gray.
- step 03
Establish the darkest values in the hair and shadows of the face.
- step 04
Mix and apply the base skin tone, gradually building up highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Paint the yellow fabric, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
- step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle details.
- step 07
Add final highlights and details to the hair and clothing.
- step 08
Adjust values and edges to create a cohesive and realistic image.
color palette
primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light
Skin tones are achieved by mixing raw umber, burnt sienna, and white, with small amounts of yellow ochre and black for subtle variations. The yellow fabric is created with cadmium yellow light and yellow ochre, toned down with raw umber.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·value studies
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
- →Ignoring subtle value changes, leading to a flat and lifeless image.
- →Overworking the details before establishing the overall form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for optimal texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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