plate no. 4569
Portrait of a Jeweler, Possibly Giovanni Pietro Crivelli
Lorenzo Lotto, 1510
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 gradations of light and shadow to define form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, clothing, background.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle layers of color to create depth and form.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to folds and shadows.
- step 05
Work on the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 06
Add details to the hands and the object held in the right hand.
- step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · viridian
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna and raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create the dark tones of the clothing. The background is a mix of white, blue, and raw umber.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle gradations of light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before painting.
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