plate no. 5693

Edward, Prince of Wales

oil, woodNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigurechildclothingheadwearfur

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations. It also offers practice in rendering textures like fur and feathers.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape and the placement of the figure within it.
step 02
Lightly sketch the outline of the head, shoulders, and hat, paying attention to proportions.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, background, clothing, and fur.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, focusing on subtle shifts in value and hue.
step 05
Develop the details of the hat and clothing, including the gold embellishments.
step 06
Add the fur texture using dry brushing or stippling techniques.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring a smooth and even tone.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · gold

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. The background is a mix of blue and white, with subtle variations in value. Use gold paint or mix yellow ochre with a touch of brown for the embellishments.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·rendering fur

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overly harsh or muddy skin tones.
→Lack of detail in the clothing and accessories.
→Flat or lifeless fur texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, burnt umber, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 6)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags