plate no. 1436

Portrait Du Sculpteur Joseph Osbach

oilRomanticismportraitportraitmanheadbeardfigureclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and using light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in loose, expressive brushwork and limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with thin washes of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas, such as the hair, beard, and shadows under the nose and eyes.
step 04
Begin building up the lighter areas of the face, using mixtures of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and background, using loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix different proportions of burnt umber and raw sienna to create a range of warm browns. Add white to lighten these colors and create highlights. Use small amounts of blue to cool down the browns and create shadows.

techniques

·alla prima
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·dry brushing
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive brushstrokes.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using too much color and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits