plate no. 3024
The Duke of Wellington
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and creating depth through value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the figure and cannon.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall form and pose.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing and accessories, such as the belt, sword, and cannon, using smaller brushes.
- step 06
Develop the highlights and shadows to create form and dimension, especially on the face and hands.
- step 07
Refine the background and foreground details, adding texture and interest.
- step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
Mix blacks and browns with blues and reds to avoid a flat, chalky appearance. Use white sparingly to create highlights and subtle value changes.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall form.
- →Using too much white and creating a chalky appearance.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 24x30
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 8, 10)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified color palette.
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