plate no. 2366
Portrait of Jacob Obrecht
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 subtle gradations and depicting fabric folds.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and frame.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of blue-gray paint.
- step 03
Establish the main values of the face, hair, and clothing using a limited palette.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
- step 05
Develop the folds and drapery of the clothing, using highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 06
Paint the frame, carefully rendering the wood grain and details.
- step 07
Add the gold inscriptions using a fine brush.
- step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · gold
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create the blue-gray background by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of raw umber.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·underpainting
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Oversimplifying the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
- →Making the clothing look flat and lifeless.
- →Getting the gold leaf inscription wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·soft cloth
optional
- ·retouch varnish
- ·drying medium
- ·gold leaf
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface is recommended for this style of painting.
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