plate no. 1562
Councilor Dr. Karl Zehden
Anton Romako, 1877
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering textures like fabric and hair. It also provides practice in creating subtle value shifts to model form.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's proportions and pose.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, background.
- step 03
Establish the darkest darks and lightest lights to define the value range.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Develop the textures of the hair, beard, and clothing, using varied brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add details to the ruff and chain, using small brushes.
- step 07
Blend and soften edges where necessary to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of realism.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones using raw sienna, burnt umber, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red light. Achieve darks by mixing burnt umber and ivory black. Use yellow ochre and titanium white for highlights.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting.
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