plate no. 0617

Portrait of Simon Marten Dircsz

oil, woodNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigureclothingbookscoat of armstable

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of facial features, as well as practice in depicting textures like fur and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background elements, paying attention to the subtle gradations of light and shadow.
step 04
Begin working on the figure, starting with the face and hands.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the clothing, fur, and accessories.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the overall color balance.
step 08
Add the text on the paper.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · gold

Mix various shades of brown and black by combining raw umber, burnt umber, and ivory black with small amounts of yellow ochre and white to achieve subtle variations in tone. Use thin glazes to build up depth and richness in the shadows.

techniques