plate no. 1181
Portrait of the abbot Tournus (1672-1733)
Jean II Restout, 1725
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 creating subtle gradations of color and value to model form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones, clothing, and background.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Develop the details of the clothing and background, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Blend and soften edges to create a smooth, naturalistic effect.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create the greenish-gray background. Black can be lightened with white to create the clothing.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·value studies
- ·modeling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the importance of value contrast in creating form.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a pre-primed canvas to save time.
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