plate no. 5833
Portrait of Oswald Marstrand
Wilhelm Marstrand, 1845
some experience helpful
This painting provides practice in portraiture, focusing on subtle skin tone variations and rendering of fabric textures. Students will develop skills in layering and blending to achieve realistic form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background with a mid-tone gray.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and clothing with basic colors.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the collar, jacket, and epaulettes.
- step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add final highlights and details to the hair and clothing.
- step 08
Glaze the entire painting to unify the colors and values.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, and burnt sienna. Use small amounts of yellow ochre and ultramarine blue to adjust the temperature of the skin tones. Achieve the darks in the clothing by mixing ivory black and raw umber.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·value control
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
- →Using too much paint, leading to a thick and textured surface.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint and create a smoother surface.
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