plate no. 4060
Portrait of Rene Descartes
Frans Hals, 1649
some experience helpful
Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and hair with subtle variations in light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of dark brown or gray.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, clothing, and collar.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 05
Develop the hair with loose, flowing brushstrokes, capturing the highlights and darks.
- step 06
Work on the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery.
- step 07
Refine the details of the collar and any other accessories.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism and depth.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Darken shadows with umber and black. Use white to lighten highlights.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall form.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and volume.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to start with a mid-tone ground.
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