plate no. 8187

Francisco De Goya Y Lucientes, after Vicente López Portaña

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingpalettebrush

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also offers practice in depicting fabric and creating depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark color, leaving the figure as a lighter area.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and palette, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows that define the form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and wrinkles in the fabric.
step 06
Add the details of the palette and brushes, paying attention to the colors and textures.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and small amounts of red and yellow. Darken colors with ivory black and lighten with white. Use ultramarine blue to cool down shadows.

techniques