plate no. 0353
An Elderly Couple
Mabuse, 1520
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as understanding subtle value shifts to create form. It also provides practice in rendering different textures, such as skin, fur, and fabric.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle value changes.
- step 04
Work on the clothing and accessories, focusing on the folds and textures.
- step 05
Refine the details of the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast.
- step 08
Add final details and glazes to enhance the realism.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use black and umber for dark areas, lightening with white for highlights. Mix blue and umber for the dark background.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·value studies
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle value changes.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subjects.
- →Making the dark areas too flat and lacking depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and improve flow.
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