plate no. 4430

Studies of the Carracci Figure

oilBaroqueself-portraitportraitfiguremaleclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion, shading, and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in rendering clothing and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Refine the sketch, paying attention to the facial features and the folds of the clothing.
step 03
Begin applying base colors to the skin, hair, and clothing, using thin washes.
step 04
Build up the values with layers of shading, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 05
Add details to the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the clothing, adding details such as the buttons and collar.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Consider adding a light wash to mimic the aged paper.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones using white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Achieve the blue of the clothing by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black.

techniques