plate no. 4220

Portrait of the young de Bros

oilRealismportraitportraitboyfigurelaceclothingred background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as practice with rendering fabric textures and subtle color variations in skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the boy, paying attention to the placement of features.
step 02
Block in the background with a mid-tone red, establishing the overall color scheme.
step 03
Establish the main values of the face, using thin layers of paint to build up the skin tones.
step 04
Begin to define the features of the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Block in the dark tones of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 07
Carefully render the lace collar, using small brushes to create the intricate details.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face, hair, clothing, and background to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones with burnt sienna, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the skin tones in the shadows. Achieve the background red by mixing cadmium red with burnt sienna and a touch of black.

techniques