plate no. 7486
Bildnis Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler
Wilhelm von Kaulbach, 1886
some experience helpful
Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in rendering form with subtle value changes and understanding the structure of the human head. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and creating a sense of depth with limited color.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes of the head, neck, and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the hair, clothing, and facial features.
- step 03
Begin layering mid-tones to define the planes of the face and the form of the hair.
- step 04
Add highlights to the hair, nose, and forehead to create a sense of light and volume.
- step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, mouth, and mustache.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend tones to create a smooth transition between values.
- step 07
Add subtle details to the clothing and background.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to values and details to achieve a likeness.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre
Mix ivory black and titanium white to create a range of grays. Add small amounts of raw umber or burnt umber to warm the grays for the skin tones.
techniques
- ·value shading
- ·blending
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of smooth transitions.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
- →Not paying attention to the direction of light.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
A smooth canvas surface will be helpful for achieving the subtle blending in this painting.
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