plate no. 5618

Portrait of the Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghistorical figuremustache

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness, and understanding subtle color variations in skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and achieving a realistic depiction of light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and collar.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and mustache.
step 06
Work on the clothing, adding folds and creases to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and tone.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and blue. Browns are created by mixing umber with black and small amounts of red or yellow.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·color mixing for skin tones
·blending
·layering
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overmixing the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags