plate no. 7659

Portrait of a Dutch master

oil, panelBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanruffclothingbeard

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex textures, such as the ruffled collar.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and collar.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Begin working on the collar, building up the layers of white and gray to create the ruffled texture.
step 06
Paint the dark clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 07
Add details to the beard and hair.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and lighting.

color palette

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

secondary · ivory black · raw sienna

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Vary the proportions to create highlights and shadows. Use burnt umber and black for the dark areas of the clothing and background.

techniques