plate no. 1033

The Reverend Thomas Harvey Skinner

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistoricalface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of light and shadow to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a thin wash of burnt umber or raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the background with a mid-tone brown, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and creases to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add details such as the collar and hair, using smaller brushes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. The dark clothing is a mix of black and umber, lightened with white for highlights. The background is various mixtures of umber, sienna, and white.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·value studies
·layering

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions leading to a distorted likeness.
→Over-blending, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, creating unnatural skin tones.
→Neglecting the subtle variations in value, making the portrait appear two-dimensional.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags