plate no. 9653

Thomas Jefferson (The Edgehill Portrait)

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistorical figure

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and blending to create realistic skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin, even layer of muted gray-green.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a mix of white, red, yellow, and brown, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the dark areas of the coat and hair, using a mix of black and brown.
step 05
Add the white cravat, carefully observing the folds and highlights.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a realistic and harmonious effect.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow, and a touch of brown. Use small amounts of blue to cool down the skin tones in shadow areas. Mix black and brown for the coat, and add a touch of blue to deepen the shadows.

techniques