plate no. 1257
Portrait of Antoine Jecker
Carolus-Duran, 1863
some experience helpful
This painting provides a good opportunity to practice portraiture, focusing on subtle value changes to model form. Students can learn to create realistic skin tones and capture a likeness.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
5
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Begin blocking in the main areas of color, focusing on the shadows and mid-tones.
- step 04
Gradually build up the skin tones, layering thin glazes of color and blending carefully.
- step 05
Pay close attention to the highlights on the face and hair, adding them sparingly.
- step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes and precise strokes.
- step 07
Add the clothing, using darker values to create contrast with the face.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a realistic and balanced portrait.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use blue and umber to create the darker tones in the clothing and background.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·value studies
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·modeling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.
- →Using too much paint and obscuring the underlying layers.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
