plate no. 5056

Paul Deroulede

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitfigureuniformswordmilitarymale

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of light and shadow on the face. It also provides practice in painting fabric and metallic details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the figure and the main elements (head, body, sword).
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: skin tones, uniform, background.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the uniform, including buttons, decorations, and fabric folds.
step 06
Paint the sword, focusing on the metallic sheen and reflections.
step 07
Add the background, blending it smoothly to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Achieve the dark uniform color by mixing black with a touch of blue and umber. Use white and yellow ochre for highlights.

techniques

·portrait painting
·value studies
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the face and body.
→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted round and flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·rags