plate no. 6109
Portrait of a young man in hat
Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1521
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice with depicting intricate fabric patterns and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic proportions and composition of the portrait.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
- step 03
Develop the values and shadows in the face, paying close attention to the light source.
- step 04
Add details to the clothing, including the patterns and folds.
- step 05
Paint the hat, carefully rendering the texture and details.
- step 06
Refine the details of the jewelry and other accessories.
- step 07
Add highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · red ochre · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna
Mix skin tones by blending white, red ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the gold details, and burnt sienna for shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·rendering fabric
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Getting lost in the details and losing sight of the overall composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Oil paints
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Palette knife
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Easel
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint.
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