plate no. 1950

Portrait of Johann Strauss II

oil, cardboardRealismportraitportraitmanhairmustacheclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and rendering form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to refine the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness.
step 06
Refine the hair with short, directional brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create darker shadows and neutral tones.

techniques