plate no. 4005

Portrait of Tommaso Portinari

oil, woodNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigurehandsclothingmale

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations for realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, hands, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral tone.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a limited palette, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Gradually build up the skin tones with thin layers of paint, blending carefully to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes.
step 07
Refine the hands, paying attention to the folds and creases of the skin.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna or cadmium red light. Use ivory black and raw umber to create the dark background and clothing, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·blending
·value studies
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the highlights and shadows.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value in the clothing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red light)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 0-6)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Soft cloths