plate no. 6220
Sir Robert Seppings
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and rendering fabric textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark background and clothing.
- step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle shifts in value on the face to create a sense of form.
- step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness.
- step 06
Add the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 07
Blend and soften edges as needed to create a smooth, realistic effect.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue for the dark background and clothing, adding small amounts of burnt umber for warmth.
techniques
- ·value studies
- ·portrait sketching
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Not paying close enough attention to the proportions of the face.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
- ·flat brush (#8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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