plate no. 6310

Thomas and Henry Sergeant

oilRococoportraitfiguresportraitchildrendoglandscapeclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding composition and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the composition and proportions of the figures and dog.
step 02
Block in the background with thin washes of color, establishing the overall tonal values.
step 03
Begin painting the figures, starting with the darkest areas and gradually building up the highlights.
step 04
Pay close attention to the shapes and values of the faces to capture the likeness of the subjects.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the clothing, including the buttons, ruffles, and folds.
step 06
Paint the dog, paying attention to the texture of the fur and the highlights in the eyes.
step 07
Refine the details of the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create darker tones by adding burnt umber and a small amount of blue. Achieve the dark greens of the clothing by mixing black, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue.

techniques