plate no. 1788

Portrait of Franz Liszt

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanpianomusicclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth through subtle value changes and soft blending.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and piano.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of muted colors.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, using subtle color variations to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the buttons and folds.
step 06
Add details to the piano and sheet music, keeping them secondary to the figure.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten values and red/blue to adjust the temperature of the skin tones.

techniques

·portrait painting
·blending
·value studies
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using too much contrast, making the painting look harsh.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags