plate no. 0949
Sir Charles Napier, Admiral
John Simpson, 1841
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as understanding how to render fabric and metallic details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, uniform, background.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones with subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Add details to the uniform, including the medals, buttons, and trim.
- step 05
Paint the sword, focusing on the metallic sheen and reflections.
- step 06
Develop the background with soft, blended brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine details and make final adjustments.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · cadmium red · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Dark blues are made with ivory black and ultramarine blue. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre to create the gold tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·rendering metal
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure.
- →Overly harsh or flat skin tones.
- →Lack of detail in the uniform and medals.
- →Poorly rendered metal surfaces.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 or 18x24) is recommended.
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