plate no. 0247

La Famille Lafitte

oilBaroqueportraitfiguresportraitclothinghistoricalfamily

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures, paying attention to their relative positions.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of dark browns and grays.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the clothing and skin tones, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as folds and highlights, to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Develop the textures of the fabrics, using a combination of smooth blending and subtle brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and value to create depth.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, sienna, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine and burnt umber to create deep shadows. Mix white with small amounts of blue and red for highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figures.
→Using colors that are too saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ivory black, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags