plate no. 3087

Richard Cheslyn

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfigurechairbookclothingtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as understanding subtle value shifts to create form and depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, chair, table, and book.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, clothing, skin tones, chair, and book.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle value changes to create form.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and buttons.
step 05
Work on the chair, adding details and shadows to give it depth.
step 06
Refine the book, paying attention to the pages and text.
step 07
Adjust the background to create the desired level of contrast and depth.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · viridian

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna. The background is created by gradually darkening raw umber with ivory black.

techniques

·portraiture
·value study
·blending
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
→Overly harsh or muddy skin tones.
→Lack of depth in the background.
→Ignoring subtle value changes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: raw umber, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, viridian
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife