plate no. 9379

John Faber

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanbookchairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures and values, as well as understanding how light and shadow define form. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness of a subject in a portrait.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Establish the darkest and lightest values to define the overall tonal range.
step 03
Begin blocking in the mid-tones, focusing on the large areas of the background and clothing.
step 04
Gradually build up the details of the face, hair, and hands, paying close attention to the subtle value changes.
step 05
Refine the textures of the clothing, book, and chair using careful brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Pay attention to the details of the face, especially the eyes, to capture the expression.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic rendering.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray by combining ivory black and titanium white in different ratios. Add small amounts of raw umber or yellow ochre to warm up the grays and create subtle variations in tone.

techniques