plate no. 7559

The Dubourg Family

oilRealismportraitfiguresportraitfamilyclothinginteriorwall

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle variations in skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex folds and textures in clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, capturing the folds and textures.
step 05
Work on the background, ensuring it complements the figures without distracting from them.
step 06
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding subtle details.
step 07
Add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Apply a final glaze to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix blacks and umbers with white to create a range of grays for the clothing and background. Use small amounts of yellow ochre and cadmium red to warm the skin tones.

techniques