plate no. 6269

King Charles I Of England

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothingdraperytablehat

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering complex textures like fabric and hair. It also offers practice in achieving subtle value gradations to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background and drapery, focusing on subtle color variations.
step 04
Begin building up the form of the face, paying close attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, including the lace collar and the star emblem.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Paint the hands and the objects on the table.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow

secondary · prussian blue · burnt sienna · gold ochre

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red or burnt sienna. Use ivory black and raw umber to create the dark tones of the clothing, and mix white with a touch of blue or yellow to create the highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and form.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, prussian blue, burnt sienna, gold ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife