plate no. 8035
Sir Henry Irving
Jules Bastien-Lepage, 1880
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and using value to create form. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle color variations and brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the darkest values in the background.
- step 03
Establish the mid-tones in the face and clothing, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate shapes and subtle value changes.
- step 05
Add details to the hands, quill, and paper on the table.
- step 06
Develop the background with loose brushstrokes, creating a sense of depth.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a harmonious and atmospheric effect.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the portrait to life.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Use ivory black and raw umber mixed with white to create the dark background and clothing. Mix yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and white for the skin tones. Use raw umber and white for the pants.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Making the dark areas too flat and lifeless.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grit canvas for a slightly textured surface. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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