plate no. 9949
Ritratto Di Un Orefice Di Norimberga
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures such as fabric and metal.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin underpainting using burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas, starting with the background and then the figure's clothing.
- step 04
Begin layering skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, including the ruff and any folds or wrinkles.
- step 07
Paint the still life elements on the table, focusing on accurate shapes and values.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and umber. Achieve dark blacks by mixing ivory black with a touch of ultramarine blue. Use thin glazes of color to build up depth and richness.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·blending
- ·rendering textures
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in color and value.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-tooth canvas will provide a good surface for layering paint.
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