plate no. 1568

Portrait of a Boy from the Gottlieb Family

oilRomanticismportraitportraitboyfigureclothinghairbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion, capturing likeness, and subtle color blending for skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background, paying attention to the subtle gradations of tone.
step 04
Start building up the skin tones with layers of thin paint, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 05
Refine the features of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Paint the clothing, capturing the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 07
Add details such as the collar and buttons.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix various combinations of white, umber, ochre, and red to achieve the skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and black sparingly to create cooler shadows and grays.

techniques