plate no. 0937

Portrait of Isaak Abrahamsz Massa

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanlandscapetreesclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and background landscape.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the skin tones using a limited palette of white, yellow ochre, and red.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Paint the dark clothing and hat, using layers of black and brown to create depth.
step 06
Render the white ruff, focusing on the intricate folds and textures.
step 07
Add details to the background landscape, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add final highlights and shadows.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create shadows by adding burnt umber or a touch of blue to the skin tone mixture. Use thin washes of burnt umber to create the background.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting lost in details too early in the process.
→Not capturing the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red light)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife