plate no. 5861

Thomas Glen, Esq.

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingformal wearhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portrait proportions, value studies, and subtle color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering textures like hair and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the proportions of the head and body.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and clothing with basic values.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights in the fabric.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine blue to cool down shadows. Achieve the dark blacks by mixing ivory black and burnt umber.

techniques