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home·artworks·Retrato De Un Hombre Sentado
Retrato De Un Hombre Sentado by Ferdinand Bol

plate no. 2730

Retrato De Un Hombre Sentado

Ferdinand Bol, 1642

canvas, oilBaroqueportraitportraitmanhatruffclothinghand
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It will also provide practice in creating depth and shadow using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hands.

  2. step 02

    Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark areas of the background, clothing, and hat.

  3. step 03

    Begin to develop the skin tones by layering thin washes of color, gradually building up the highlights and shadows.

  4. step 04

    Focus on capturing the likeness of the subject by carefully observing the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.

  5. step 05

    Add details to the ruff and clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.

  6. step 06

    Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.

  7. step 07

    Add final details, such as the hair and beard, and adjust the overall composition as needed.

  8. step 08

    Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, raw sienna, and a touch of cadmium red light. Darken shadows with burnt umber and ivory black. Use yellow ochre to add warmth to highlights.

techniques

  • ·underpainting
  • ·glazing
  • ·scumbling
  • ·chiaroscuro
  • ·portraiture

common pitfalls

  • →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
  • →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
  • →Ignoring the importance of value contrast.
  • →Not paying attention to the details of the clothing and accessories.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·Stretched canvas 16x20
  • ·Ivory black oil paint
  • ·Burnt umber oil paint
  • ·Raw sienna oil paint
  • ·Titanium white oil paint
  • ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
  • ·Palette
  • ·Linseed oil

optional

  • ·Palette knife
  • ·Medium gloss
  • ·Retouch varnish

Use a high-quality canvas and oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paints and improve their flow.

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related guides

oil painting for beginners →chiaroscuro →how to learn by studying the masters →
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