plate no. 1164

Study for 'Bartholomew Johnson'

oilRococosketch and studyportraitfiguremanchairclothinghistorical

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in portraiture, specifically capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. Students will also learn to create depth using value and subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the dark background and the general shape of the red chair.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with a mid-tone.
step 04
Start building up the shadows and highlights on the face, paying attention to the light source.
step 05
Add details to the hair, clothing, and chair, refining the shapes and values.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust the values as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve darker tones by adding black or burnt umber to the base colors. The red chair is a mix of cadmium red and burnt umber.

techniques