plate no. 9647

Portrait of Charles Fichot

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfiguremanbeardclothingglasses

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and red.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, mixing colors to match the subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 06
Carefully render the beard, using small brushstrokes to create the individual hairs.
step 07
Paint the hands and glasses, focusing on accurate shapes and values.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix burnt umber and cadmium red for the background. Use white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red to create skin tones. Mix black and umber for the clothing.

techniques