plate no. 2514

Sir George Otto Trevelyan, 2nd Bt, Aged 32

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurechairbeardclothingbook

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering of light and shadow on skin, and capturing subtle color variations. It also provides practice in depicting textures of clothing and hair.

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 overall composition and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 03
Develop the background with subtle gradations of color and value.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and chair, capturing the textures and folds.
step 06
Work on the beard and hair, using small brushstrokes to create individual strands.
step 07
Paint the book and other details in the lower left corner.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, sienna, umber, and a touch of crimson. Use black and umber for dark clothing, and add white for highlights. Mix sienna and ochre for the background.

techniques