plate no. 2972

The cellist Franz Wödl

oil, canvasBiedermeierportraitportraitfigurecelloinstrumentmanclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportion and capturing likeness, as well as rendering fabric and subtle tonal variations in skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure, cello, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Paint the cello, carefully rendering the wood grain and the details of the scroll and strings.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the figure and cello to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust values.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and white. Use yellow ochre and white to create the skin tones, adding small amounts of red for warmth.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·underpainting
·blending

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the figure.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to capture the subtle tonal variations in the skin tones.
→Creating a flat or lifeless rendering of the fabric.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags