plate no. 1063
Leonora Christina Ulfeldt
Gerard van Honthorst, 1647
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle value gradations to model form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, skin tones, clothing, and hat.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds, textures, and embellishments.
- step 05
Carefully render the lace collar and jewelry, capturing their intricate details.
- step 06
Add details to the hat, including the feathers and embellishments.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. The red clothing is achieved by mixing cadmium red light with burnt sienna and ivory black for shadows. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Losing the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium such as linseed oil can be used to thin the paints and improve their flow.
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