plate no. 1643

John Somers

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanhairclothinglace

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and lace details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape of the portrait and the placement of the figure.
step 02
Lightly sketch the main features of the face: eyes, nose, mouth, and hairline.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color: skin tones, hair, clothing, and background.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the hair, using layers of color to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, including the lace collar and any folds or wrinkles.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue to create the dark tones in the clothing and background. Add white to these mixes to create the lighter shades of the clothing.

techniques