plate no. 4245
Portrait of Emil Desseweffy
Miklos Barabas, 1866
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict complex textures like fur and fabric.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
- step 03
Develop the background elements, focusing on the architectural details and lighting.
- step 04
Begin to build up the figure, paying close attention to the facial features and expression.
- step 05
Add layers of color to create depth and dimension in the clothing and fur.
- step 06
Refine the details, such as the hands, jewelry, and map.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and color harmony to create a cohesive image.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the realism.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use thin glazes of color to build up depth and create subtle variations.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·value studies
- ·fur rendering
- ·fabric depiction
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details before establishing the overall values.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paints and improve blending.
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