plate no. 3496

Robert Vernon Atherton Gwillym

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigurelandscapeskyarchitectureclothing

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background landscape, paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Begin refining the figure, focusing on accurate proportions and anatomical details.
step 05
Build up the skin tones using layers of subtle color variations.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, hair, and architectural elements.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · red ochre · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of red ochre, raw umber, and yellow ochre. Create the red coat by mixing cadmium red light with red ochre and a touch of black for shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to establish a clear light source.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (red ochre, ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife