plate no. 6503

Hans and Bolette Puggaard's Three Children

oil, canvasNeoclassicismportraitfiguresportraitchildrenclothingdrumcurtains

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice in depicting fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and the drum.
step 02
Establish the background color and the general placement of the curtains.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the clothing and skin tones, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including folds and textures.
step 06
Add details to the drum and drumsticks.
step 07
Refine the background and add subtle highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and small amounts of umber. Greens are created by mixing blue and yellow, adjusted with white or umber for value.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figures
→Overly saturated skin tones
→Lack of subtle value changes
→Ignoring the light source

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, viridian, ultramarine blue, raw umber)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags