plate no. 5718

Bildnis Costenoble in Tracht

Albin Egger-Lienz, 1905

canvas, oilRealismportraitportraitmanhatclothingfiguretraditional dress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering clothing folds, as well as practicing loose, expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, hat, and torso.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of warm brown tones.
step 03
Establish the main value areas of the face and hands using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin layering in the colors of the clothing, starting with the red vest and then the brown jacket.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle variations in skin tone.
step 06
Refine the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red · ivory black

secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and ivory black. Use titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones.

techniques

·alla prima
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive brushwork.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife