plate no. 4252

Portrait of the Viennese Industrialist Raoul Leon von Wernburg

John Quincy Adams, 1913

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitmansuitcollarfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding subtle color variations and blending techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and suit.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of browns and ochres.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Paint the suit and collar, using darker values for the shadows and lighter values for the highlights.
step 06
Blend the edges of the colors to create a smooth transition between tones.
step 07
Add details such as the hair, mustache, and tie.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use raw umber and ivory black to create darker values for shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·blending
·value study
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unrealistic.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags