plate no. 9762

Retrato De Enano

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanclothingswordhistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle value shifts to model form and create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the figure, paying attention to the unique proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin, even layer of dark gray-green.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the clothing with a base layer of green.
step 04
Begin layering in the red details on the clothing, using small brushstrokes.
step 05
Develop the face, focusing on accurate placement of features and subtle value changes.
step 06
Add the gold details on the clothing and sword, using a fine brush.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details, such as the buttons and the texture of the beard.

color palette

primary · olive green · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of green by combining olive green, burnt umber, and titanium white. Achieve the red accents by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt umber for depth.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·portraiture
·fabric rendering

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create subtle value shifts in the face.
→Inaccurate color mixing for the clothing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (olive green, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife