plate no. 4611
Portrait of a man with long, blond hair
Karel Škréta, 1640
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and hair textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hand.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and hand using a limited palette.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to subtle variations in skin tone.
- step 05
Paint the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing and chair, focusing on the folds and highlights.
- step 07
Glaze over the painting to unify the colors and create depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red or brown. Use raw umber and ivory black to create the dark background and shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth and luminosity of the colors.
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