plate no. 6802

Washington After the Battle of Princeton, New Jersey

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigurelandscapemilitaryhorseflag

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and atmosphere in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figure, horse, and landscape.
step 02
Establish the background sky and distant landscape with broad washes of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Block in the main colors of Washington's uniform, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and shadow.
step 04
Start building up the details of the face, using thin layers of paint to create smooth transitions and realistic skin tones.
step 05
Add details to the uniform, including the gold braid, buttons, and sash, using smaller brushes and precise strokes.
step 06
Paint the horse and flag in the background, simplifying the details and focusing on the overall form and color.
step 07
Refine the foreground elements, such as the cannon and discarded weapons, adding texture and detail to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism and create a focal point on Washington's face.

color palette

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

secondary · prussian blue · cadmium red light · gold

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create shadows with burnt umber and blue. Mix greens for the landscape using yellow ochre and prussian blue.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, prussian blue, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags