plate no. 1966
Bildnis Des Malers Gunnar Berndtson
Eero Järnefelt, 1892
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using a limited palette to create depth and form. It will also improve their understanding of brushwork and creating soft edges.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin tones, clothing.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Add details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Work on the clothing, using darker values to create shadows and folds.
- step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figure and background.
- step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Darken colors with ivory black and ultramarine blue.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·value studies
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Not paying attention to subtle variations in value.
- →Using too much detail too early in the painting process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grit canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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