plate no. 9630
Christoph Willibald Gluck
Joseph Duplessis, 1775
experienced study
Recreating this painting would help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as techniques for depicting fabric and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones, creating depth.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the face, hair, and clothing.
- step 04
Begin layering skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Render the fabric of the clothing, capturing the folds and highlights.
- step 07
Add details to the musical instrument and other elements in the composition.
- step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding final touches.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · viridian · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Mix various shades of brown and gray for the background and clothing. Use red and white to create the skin tones, adding small amounts of yellow ochre and raw umber for warmth and depth. Mix viridian with raw umber to achieve the green of the musical instrument.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·fabric rendering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to capture the texture and folds of the fabric.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·turpentine
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial stages of the painting.
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