plate no. 1934

Samuel Wesley

oilRococoportraitportraitmanclothingfacehairneck

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 changes to create form. It also provides practice in blending and layering paint to achieve smooth transitions.

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 clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin, even layer of dark red-brown paint.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle value changes.
step 05
Paint the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest texture and form.
step 06
Block in the dark tones of the clothing and collar.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add highlights and finishing touches to the hair and clothing.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light

Mix various combinations of white, umber, and sienna to achieve the skin tones. Add small amounts of red for warmth and black for shadows. The background is primarily burnt umber with a touch of red.

techniques