plate no. 7301

Portrait of Karl I. Bistrom

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryuniformhairgold

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also offers practice in painting detailed textures like hair and gold embellishments.

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 figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and overall pose.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, uniform, and background, using thin washes.
step 03
Refine the skin tones, building up layers of color to create depth and form. Pay attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 05
Paint the uniform, focusing on the folds and highlights to give it dimension.
step 06
Add the gold embellishments, using a fine brush to capture the intricate details.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to create a cohesive and polished painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, and titanium white. The uniform uses ivory black and ultramarine blue. Gold is created with yellow ochre, raw sienna, and touches of burnt umber.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the face
→Muddy skin tones
→Overworking the details
→Ignoring the light source
→Uneven blending

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags