plate no. 1696
Count István Széchenyi
Miklos Barabas, 1848
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures like fur and fabric.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the figure and head.
- step 02
Establish the light and shadow areas with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the skin, hair, and clothing.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to subtle value changes.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the fur collar and medals.
- step 06
Blend the background to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
- step 07
Add highlights to the face, hair, and clothing.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a realistic likeness.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue
Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, raw sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Darker areas can be created by adding burnt umber and a small amount of ultramarine blue.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·value studies
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions
- →muddy skin tones
- →overly harsh shadows
- →lack of detail in the facial features
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint.
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