plate no. 0326

Bonaparte

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanhairclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and using value to create form. It also provides practice in loose brushwork and subtle color mixing for skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, layering colors and blending edges.
step 04
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using varied brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding highlights.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Black is used sparingly to deepen shadows. Mix small amounts of blue into the shadows to cool them.

techniques