plate no. 8165
The Reverend Alfred Nathaniel Holden Curzon
William Logsdail, 1909
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It will also provide practice in creating subtle gradations of value to model form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Start refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, using darker values to create depth and form.
- step 05
Work on the background, blending the colors smoothly to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 06
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create a sense of light and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the forms to create a more realistic and polished look.
- step 08
Add final details and adjustments as needed.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Add small amounts of cadmium red light and yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones. Use ultramarine blue to cool down shadows.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·value studies
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 or 18x24) is recommended for this project.
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