plate no. 9798

Charles Francois

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingwiglacedrapery

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice with layering and glazing techniques to achieve subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown, leaving the figure's area untouched.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: skin tones, wig, jacket, and drapery, using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Develop the details of the wig, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Work on the jacket, adding highlights and shadows to define its form and texture.
step 07
Render the drapery with soft, flowing brushstrokes, capturing the folds and highlights.
step 08
Add final details such as the lace collar and any embellishments on the jacket.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark background and shadows in the drapery. Mix cadmium yellow light with white and a touch of red to create the highlights on the jacket.

techniques

·portraiture
·layering
·glazing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure.
→Overly harsh or muddy skin tones.
→Lack of depth and dimension in the drapery.
→Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff or unnatural appearance.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow light, alizarin crimson)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags