plate no. 6043
Head of a Male Saint
Hans Holbein the Younger, 1516
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering subtle skin tones and creating a sense of depth through layering. Students will also learn to depict curly hair and the use of a limited color palette to create harmony.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, halo, and basic shapes.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of blue.
- step 03
Establish the base skin tone with a mix of white, ochre, and a touch of red.
- step 04
Begin layering the skin tones, adding subtle shadows and highlights to define the facial features.
- step 05
Paint the hair using a mix of browns and blacks, paying attention to the direction of the curls.
- step 06
Paint the halo with a mix of yellow ochre and gold, adding subtle variations in tone.
- step 07
Add the clothing details, including the gold tunic and red drapery.
- step 08
Refine the details and add final highlights.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · ivory black
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, ochre, and small amounts of red and umber. Vary the proportions to create subtle shifts in color. The halo is created with yellow ochre and a touch of gold or a lighter yellow.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Applying paint too thickly, obscuring the underlayers.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface is recommended for easier blending.
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