plate no. 1697

Family Portrait

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitfiguresportraitarchitecturelandscapecurtainfamily

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in the background landscape. Students will also learn about Baroque portraiture conventions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and architectural elements, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with thin washes of color, focusing on creating depth through atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, starting with the darkest values and gradually adding highlights.
step 04
Develop the details of the faces, paying close attention to capturing the likeness and expressions of each individual.
step 05
Render the fabric of the clothing, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and folds.
step 06
Add details to the architectural elements and foliage, refining the overall composition.
step 07
Glaze over areas to unify the color palette and create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of black by combining ivory black with raw umber and burnt sienna. Use titanium white to create highlights and lighten the skin tones. Mix yellow ochre and cadmium red light to create the warm tones in the background and the girl's dress.

techniques

·Underpainting
·Glazing
·Chiaroscuro
·Portraiture
·Rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
→Using too much black, resulting in a muddy painting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Rags