plate no. 5384
Portrait of an unknown man and his wife (right part)
Bernard Van Orley, 1500
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of depth through shading.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, and background.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Work on the clothing, rendering the folds and textures of the fabric.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and volume.
- step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
- step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium red light · raw sienna
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Black is used sparingly and lightened with white for shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·value study
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the face
- →Overly harsh or muddy skin tones
- →Lack of subtle value changes
- →Ignoring the structure of the underlying forms
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·raw sienna oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint and create smoother blends.
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