plate no. 5322
Portrait of Prince Piscicelli
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through value and color.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and clothing.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones, hat, and background.
- step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
- step 05
Develop the details of the hat, capturing its shape and texture.
- step 06
Work on the clothing, creating a sense of depth and form.
- step 07
Add the final details, such as the eyes, mouth, and hair.
- step 08
Adjust the overall composition and values as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The background is a mix of umber and black, lightened with white in areas.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·value study
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the paint.
- →Failing to capture the subtle shifts in value and color.
- →Ignoring the importance of the background in creating a sense of depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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