plate no. 3266
Portrait de Jean-Jacques Henner
Jean Benner, 1890
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating subtle value gradations and working with a limited color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
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, focusing on the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darks and lights with thin washes.
- step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 04
Develop the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of warm and cool colors.
- step 05
Add details to the beard and hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
- step 06
Paint the clothing and hat, focusing on the subtle variations in value and color.
- step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use small amounts of red and yellow to warm up the skin tones.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the underpainting process.
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