plate no. 0594

Portrait of the painter Josef Redl

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in blending and creating soft transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of value: background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 03
Focus on the face, refining the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Gradually build up the values in the face, using soft blending to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Refine the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and contrast to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber

Mix varying proportions of black and white to achieve the different shades of gray. Add small amounts of raw umber or yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones.

techniques