plate no. 3140

Portrait of Louis Pasteur (sketch)

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitmanlaboratorybooksglasswareinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, capturing likeness and form with loose brushstrokes, and understanding how to depict light and shadow in a complex interior setting. Students will also learn to simplify details and focus on the overall impression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and key elements.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the major shapes of the figure and background, using broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Develop the likeness of the portrait, paying attention to the proportions and features of the face.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, hands, and laboratory equipment.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values to achieve a harmonious balance.
step 08
Add final details and textures with smaller brushes.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Darken colors with black or burnt umber, and lighten with white. Use blue and umber to create the dark tones in the suit.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·implied detail

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the portrait.
→Making the colors too saturated or unrealistic.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags