plate no. 1668

Self-portrait of the Artist with his Wife Suzanne Cock and their Children

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitfiguresportraitfamilyclothingchildrenhistorical

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including rendering realistic skin tones, drapery, and capturing likenesses. It also provides practice in complex composition and layering techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and their positions.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, muted tones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes and colors of the clothing, focusing on value relationships.
step 04
Start building up the skin tones, using thin layers of paint and subtle blending.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add the details of the clothing, such as the lace collars and cuffs, and the patterns on the fabrics.
step 07
Introduce highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · viridian

Achieve the dark blacks by mixing ivory black with raw umber. Skin tones are created using a base of titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red light, adjusting the proportions for different complexions.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·drapery

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Getting lost in details too early, before establishing the overall composition and values.
→Failing to capture accurate proportions and likenesses.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tones, resulting in flat or lifeless faces.