plate no. 8906

Self-portrait Sir Samuel Luke Fildes Ra (1843-1927)

Luke Fildes, 1911

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitmansuitpalettebeardglasses

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in painting fabrics and creating depth through subtle value changes.

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 proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background, focusing on subtle gradations of tone.
step 04
Start building up the form of the face, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures.
step 06
Paint the palette and hand, ensuring accurate color and form.
step 07
Add final details such as the glasses, beard, and hair.
step 08
Glaze and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones using a combination of white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve darks by mixing ivory black and burnt umber, and adjust the temperature with ultramarine blue or cadmium red.

techniques

·portraiture
·value studies
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating muddy or dull colors by overmixing.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife