plate no. 1510

Portrait of Turenne

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanhairclothingface

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 the use of light and shadow to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the hair, using dark browns and blacks, and suggest individual strands with loose brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights to the face and hair to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Paint the clothing, using a limited palette of reds and browns.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna for the background. Use white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red for skin tones. Darken with burnt umber and lighten with white.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·value blocking
·blending
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, which can result in a stiff and unnatural-looking portrait.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using too much paint, which can make the painting look muddy.
→Not paying attention to the values, which can result in a flat and lifeless portrait.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags