plate no. 3271

Richard Oxenden

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigureclothinghairovaldrapery

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 how to depict fabric folds and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval and the basic shapes of the figure, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, face, hair, clothing.
step 03
Start refining the skin tones, building up layers of color to create depth and form.
step 04
Work on the hair, using small brushstrokes to suggest individual strands and curls.
step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the clothing, paying attention to how light interacts with the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and tone.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism of the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, sienna, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create dark shadows. Add yellow ochre to sienna for highlights.

techniques