plate no. 8908

Some Cardinal

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigurecardinalclothinghathand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of color to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, face, clothing, and hat.
step 03
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and shading.
step 04
Develop the folds and highlights in the red robe, using layers of color.
step 05
Add details to the hands and the paper, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Work on the lace cuffs, using small brushes to create the intricate patterns.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna

Mix reds with white and a touch of yellow ochre for highlights, and add burnt umber and black for shadows. Use yellow ochre and white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of red and umber for warmth and shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·fabric rendering
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Making the red robe too flat and lifeless.
→Overworking the details in the lace cuffs.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints: cadmium red, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw sienna
·assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags