plate no. 3184

William ('Gentleman') Smith

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothingred background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as practice blending and layering techniques to create realistic skin tones and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the red background, the skin tones, the dark coat, and the white cravat.
step 03
Start refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures of the coat and cravat.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and value to create depth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of form and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a finished look.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, red ochre, raw umber, and a touch of yellow. Achieve the dark coat color by mixing ivory black with a touch of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. Vary the red background by mixing red ochre with burnt sienna and a touch of white.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·color mixing
·blending
·layering
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Using too much black in the shadows, making them look muddy.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (red ochre, ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags