plate no. 8797
Portrait of Louis II of Hungary
Bernhard Strigel, 1515
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as practicing the depiction of fine details in clothing and jewelry.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, background, and clothing.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle layers of color to create depth and form.
- step 04
Work on the hair, using small brushstrokes to suggest texture and individual strands.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, including folds, patterns, and textures.
- step 06
Paint the jewelry, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the background, creating a soft, diffused effect.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · gold
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre to create the base for the hair, adding highlights with lighter yellows. Achieve the background by mixing ultramarine blue and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·rendering
- ·color blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Neglecting the details in the clothing and jewelry.
- →Creating too much contrast in the background, distracting from the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 6, 8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·retouch varnish
- ·painting medium
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer of paint to dry before applying the next.
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