plate no. 8658

Sir William McCormick

William Orpen, 1920

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguremanchairclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and creating depth through value and color variations. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of form through subtle gradations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark colors.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, clothing, and chair, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and wrinkles, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the painting.
step 07
Refine the edges and details of the chair and background.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of gray for the clothing and background by combining black, white, and small amounts of raw umber and burnt sienna. Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber.

techniques