plate no. 5600
Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig
Franz Stuck, 1907
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating a textured background using visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the background with a mid-tone gray, using vertical brushstrokes.
- step 03
Establish the dark values of the suit, paying attention to the overall shape.
- step 04
Begin layering in lighter values in the background to create depth and texture.
- step 05
Start refining the face, focusing on accurate placement of features and subtle value changes.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the collar, tie, and buttons.
- step 07
Paint the hands, paying attention to the bone structure and skin tones.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face, clothing, and background.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of gray by combining black, umber, and white. Use small amounts of red and yellow to create the skin tones and the tie.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·value studies
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the face and losing the subtle value changes.
- →Making the background too uniform and lacking texture.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in an unnatural look.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for better texture.
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