plate no. 7439
Louis Charles De Saulces De Freycinet
Achille Zo, 1880
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice in depicting fabric textures and subtle variations in light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Establish the background color and general tonal values.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, suit, and table.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the details of the suit, including folds and buttons.
- step 06
Add details to the chair and table, focusing on texture and form.
- step 07
Blend and refine the transitions between colors and values.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · viridian
Mix various shades of brown and gray for the suit and background. Use white and yellow ochre to create highlights on the face and hands. Mix red with brown and black for the table cloth.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure.
- →Overblending the skin tones.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Getting the values wrong, making it look flat.
- →Not paying attention to the details of the suit and chair.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paints for glazing.
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