plate no. 5257

Thomas Elliott and His Granddaughter Deborah Hibernia

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguresclothingdraperybookstable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as rendering fabric and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the proportions of the figures and the placement of key elements.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of brown and burgundy.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, using thin layers of paint to build up the skin tones.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Paint the books and paper on the table, adding subtle details to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Refine the drapery, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the figures and background.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create deep blacks for the clothing.

techniques