plate no. 2117
Stanislaw Leszczynski
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering textures of clothing and hair. It also provides an opportunity to study historical portraiture techniques.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of warm yellow-brown.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and clothing.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Work on the clothing, adding details like the collar, sash, and decorations.
- step 07
Refine the background and add any final touches.
- step 08
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of brown and beige for the skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sash. Mix cadmium red with burnt umber for the coat.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details before establishing the overall values.
- →Using too much paint and losing the texture.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the colors and create a luminous effect.
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