plate no. 0920

Portrait of M Pater

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingwigsculptureman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle tonal variations to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and sculpture.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark, muted colors.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and wig.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the buttons and folds.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the wig to create volume and texture.
step 07
Refine the sculpture, focusing on its form and texture.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix yellow ochre and raw umber for the base skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create muted grays for the background. Add titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Making the colors too saturated.
→Failing to capture the subtle tonal variations.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·rags