plate no. 3421
Portrait of Franz Liszt
Mihaly Munkacsy, 1886
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good exercise in portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and subtle tonal variations in skin and clothing. Students can learn to create depth and form using a limited palette and visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones, creating a sense of depth.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall value structure.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle tonal changes.
- step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, capturing the folds and textures with visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Paint the hands and piano keys, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 07
Add highlights to the hair and face to create a sense of realism.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final details.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for the dark clothing and background, adding white to lighten the tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Making the skin tones too flat or lifeless.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-sized canvas for this project. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the dark background.
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