plate no. 3273

Reverend George Home of Gunsgreen

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclerical collarrobeformal wear

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value transitions to create form. It also provides practice in rendering fabrics and capturing a likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and collar.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with mid-tones, paying attention to the planes of the face.
step 04
Begin layering in highlights and shadows on the face to define the form.
step 05
Paint the hair, using a mix of grays and browns, and suggest individual strands.
step 06
Block in the dark robe, using a mix of black and burnt umber, and indicate folds with subtle value changes.
step 07
Paint the white collar, paying attention to the highlights and shadows that define its shape.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw sienna, and a touch of red. Darken colors with burnt umber and black. Use white to create highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·value study
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the face.
→Overly harsh or muddy color mixtures.
→Ignoring subtle value changes that define form.
→Lack of attention to detail in the eyes and mouth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife