plate no. 3693

The Skater (Portrait of William Grant)

oil, canvasRococoportraitfigureportraitice skatingtreeslandscapewinter

some experience helpful

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 in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of key elements like the trees and distant figures.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of muted colors, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 03
Block in the main figure with broad strokes, paying attention to the overall shape and pose.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Develop the clothing, using darker values to create shadows and lighter values to suggest highlights.
step 06
Add details to the background elements, such as the trees and distant figures, using progressively smaller brushes.
step 07
Render the ice surface with subtle variations in tone and texture, suggesting its reflective quality.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the figure and background, paying attention to the overall balance and harmony of the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing black and white with small amounts of earth tones and blue. Use yellow ochre and white for highlights on the face and clothing. Mix burnt sienna and umber for warmer shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Incorrect proportions of the figure
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the background
→Using colors that are too saturated

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·ivory black oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·#2 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium gloss
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a high-quality canvas primed with gesso. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process. Work in thin layers, allowing each layer to dry before applying the next.

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