plate no. 3243
Richard Arkwright Junior
some experience helpful
This painting provides practice in portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones. Students will also learn to render fabric and textures, and to create depth through subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted brown.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, chair, and table with corresponding colors.
- step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, layering highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to folds and textures.
- step 06
Add details to the chair and table, including the documents and other objects.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna
Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve darker tones by adding black or burnt umber to the primary colors.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·value studies
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Ignoring the underlying structure of the face.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth.
- →Getting lost in details before establishing the overall composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Romantic Landscape
Karl Lessing
Self-portrait with his brother Francesco
Giuseppe Tominz
Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie
Léon Cogniet
Duke of Alba
Francisco Goya
Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal
Andreas Achenbach
Young Girl Fixing Her Hair
Sophie Gengembre Anderson
The Plough Inn
William Shayer
Hudson River Landscape
Johann Hermann Carmiencke