plate no. 5818

Otto Van Der Waeyen in a Polish Costume

canvas, oilBaroqueportraitfigureportraitarmordrumweaponsinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict textures of different materials like fabric and metal.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the objects.
step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones, paying attention to the subtle variations in value.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and the objects with thin washes of color.
step 04
Start building up the layers of color on the figure, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Pay close attention to the details of the face, capturing the likeness and expression of the subject.
step 06
Render the textures of the clothing, armor, and other objects, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details and add finishing touches, such as highlights and shadows.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve the golden hues of the costume by mixing yellow ochre with burnt umber and white. Use small amounts of red and blue to create subtle variations in the shadows.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·rendering textures

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Not paying enough attention to the values.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags