plate no. 3441

Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingmedalsface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in loose, expressive brushwork and creating depth with value contrast.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of burnt umber, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Roughly block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and clothing with corresponding values.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, mixing subtle variations of pink, yellow, and brown.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Paint the clothing, focusing on the shapes and folds, and the highlights on the collar.
step 07
Add the medals with simplified shapes and colors, using highlights to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding details as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber or blue for shadows. Achieve the dark background and clothing by mixing umber and black.

techniques