plate no. 7771

The canon of the cathedral of Reims

oilRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclerical collarwigclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle color mixing for skin tones, and rendering of fabric and hair. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused lighting effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's proportions and pose on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and background.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, focusing on subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Render the hair, using short, broken strokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Paint the clothing, capturing the folds and shadows of the fabric.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · burnt sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. The clothing is primarily black with subtle variations created by adding blue or umber. The background is a muted gray achieved by mixing black and white.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
→Creating harsh lines and edges instead of soft transitions.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value that create depth and realism.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, raw umber, ivory black, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, burnt sienna)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels