plate no. 9456
Louis XIV de France
Claude Deruet, 1643
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending. It also provides practice in rendering delicate fabrics and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even wash.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Add the details of the hair, headwear, and clothing, focusing on texture and form.
- step 06
Develop the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the skin tones.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the portrait.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light
secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use blue and black sparingly to create shadows and cool tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the face
- →Overblending skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance
- →Inaccurate color mixing, leading to unnatural skin tones
- →Neglecting the subtle variations in light and shadow
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
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