plate no. 2165

Portrait of P. S. Krøyer's half brother and cousin Vilhelm born

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitmanformal wearfacehairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering skin tones, and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and formal attire.

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 head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones using a limited palette of white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red.
step 04
Carefully observe and mix the subtle color variations in the skin, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the dark areas of the suit and bow tie, gradually adding highlights and details.
step 06
Refine the features of the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add details to the hair and mustache, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved through subtle mixing of white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Darker tones are created by adding small amounts of black or burnt umber.

techniques