plate no. 5562

William Shield

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanclothingpaperhand

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering of clothing folds. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a sense of character.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown, gradually building up the darker areas.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with a mid-tone flesh color, focusing on the planes of the face and the light source.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery. Use a limited palette of blacks, grays, and whites to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the hands and paper, carefully observing the shapes and textures.
step 07
Refine the hair, using short, broken strokes to create a sense of texture and movement.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors, ensuring that the painting has a sense of unity and harmony.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of burnt umber. Darker tones can be created by adding ivory black or burnt umber. The background is primarily burnt umber and ivory black.

techniques