plate no. 9737
Boy Playing a Recorder
Hendrick Terbrugghen, 1621
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and drapery folds. It also provides practice in using chiaroscuro to create depth and drama.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral color.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, clothing, hat, and flute.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create smooth transitions in the skin tones.
- step 05
Define the shadows and highlights to create depth and form.
- step 06
Add details to the face, hands, and flute.
- step 07
Refine the drapery folds and textures.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall contrast.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre
Achieve skin tones by mixing raw sienna, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use cadmium red and burnt umber for the red drapery, adding white for highlights. Mix ivory black and burnt umber for the dark shadows.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overblending, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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