plate no. 3847

Sir Codrington Edmund Carrington

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingred backgroundhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding value relationships to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of red paint, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the coat and hair, paying attention to the subtle variations within the dark areas.
step 04
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the features of the face, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the collar and tie, using small brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white, with small amounts of burnt umber and ultramarine blue for shadows. The background is primarily cadmium red, darkened with burnt umber.

techniques