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home·artworks·Self portrait of the artist with wife and son Alfons
Self portrait of the artist with wife and son Alfons by Johann Friedrich Overbeck

plate no. 8395

Self portrait of the artist with wife and son Alfons

Johann Friedrich Overbeck, 1830

oakNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguresfamilyclothingarchitecturelandscape
experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as understanding how to depict different textures in clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Create a preliminary sketch, focusing on accurate proportions and placement of the figures.

  2. step 02

    Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, including the architecture and sky.

  3. step 03

    Establish the base skin tones for each figure, paying attention to the light source and shadows.

  4. step 04

    Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create depth and form.

  5. step 05

    Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery, and capturing the different textures.

  6. step 06

    Add details to the faces, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of each person.

  7. step 07

    Refine the background and add any remaining details, such as the nuts on the ground.

  8. step 08

    Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Create darker tones by adding ivory black or ultramarine blue. The red drapery is achieved by layering cadmium red with glazes of burnt umber for depth.

techniques

  • ·portraiture
  • ·glazing
  • ·blending
  • ·layering
  • ·drapery

common pitfalls

  • →Inaccurate proportions of the figures
  • →Overblending skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance
  • →Difficulty capturing the likeness of each person
  • →Getting the folds of the clothing wrong
  • →Uneven skin tones

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
  • ·Oil paints (ivory black, cadmium red, yellow ochre, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber)
  • ·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
  • ·Palette
  • ·Palette knife
  • ·Linseed oil
  • ·Odorless mineral spirits
  • ·Rags

optional

  • ·Retouch varnish
  • ·Medium gloss
  • ·Easel

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.

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