plate no. 8073

Jan Davidszoon de Heem

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanpipeclothinghat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using subtle value changes and glazing techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark, muted colors.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of thin, transparent glazes.
step 05
Define the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, hat, and pipe, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and form.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and realistic effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt umber, raw sienna, and alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber for dark shadows, and yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for highlights.

techniques