plate no. 4667

Rear-Admiral Charles Inglis

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfigureseaskyshipclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as practicing atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad washes of color, creating the stormy sky and distant sea.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the clothing and hat, using simplified color masses.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the values and subtle color variations in the skin.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the buttons, epaulettes, and lace cuffs.
step 06
Paint the hands and the book, focusing on accurate rendering of form and texture.
step 07
Refine the background, adding details such as the ship and the highlights on the waves.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension throughout the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red light · raw sienna

Mix various shades of gray and blue for the clothing and background. Use red and yellow ochre to create realistic skin tones, adjusting with white and umber for highlights and shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Inaccurate proportions in the figure.
→Muddying the colors by over-mixing.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red light, raw sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette knife
·rags