plate no. 4019

Portrait De M. Cossé

oilRomanticismportraitportraitmanbeardsuitfigureclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness, rendering skin tones, and creating subtle gradations of value. It also provides practice in painting realistic textures, such as fabric and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown, leaving lighter areas where the light hits the subject.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the face and beard.
step 06
Paint the suit, using darker values to create contrast and define the form.
step 07
Add details such as the collar and buttons, and refine the edges of the figure.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a realistic and harmonious effect.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red or yellow. Darken colors with ivory black and lighten with white. Use thin glazes to build up color and create subtle variations.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·blending
·value study
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the colors and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle gradations of value in the face.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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