plate no. 6580
Portrait of French Writer and Politician Léon Laurent-Pichat
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form through subtle value changes. It also offers practice in creating a soft, atmospheric background.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, paying attention to the head, shoulders, and hands.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, and background.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle variations in color and value to create form.
- step 04
Work on the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and mustache.
- step 05
Develop the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 06
Refine the background, creating a soft, atmospheric effect.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figure and background.
- step 08
Check proportions and values, making any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve darker values by adding ivory black and burnt sienna.
techniques
- ·portrait sketching
- ·value studies
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.
- →Creating a background that is too distracting or detailed.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white 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-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial blocking-in stage.
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