plate no. 3400

Nikolaus Lenau, Austrian poet

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will allow students to practice portrait techniques, including accurate proportions and subtle color variations for skin tones. It also provides an opportunity to study the use of light and shadow to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, background, clothing.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 05
Work on the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for dark areas, and add blue to darken shadows. The background is a mix of raw umber and white, with slight variations.

techniques

·portrait painting
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, ivory black, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife