plate no. 8008

Sir Thomas Aylesbury

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigurebuildinglandscapebustdocument

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and atmosphere with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, bust, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the darkest values and working towards the lighter ones.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the proportions and subtle variations in skin tone.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the collar and the folds of the fabric.
step 05
Add the details of the bust and the background landscape, focusing on creating a sense of depth.
step 06
Work on the document in the figure's hand, capturing the texture and the subtle variations in tone.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red and yellow. Use ultramarine blue and black to create the dark tones of the clothing. Mix raw umber and white for the bust.

techniques