plate no. 9433
The Engraver Bernardo Rico
Raimundo de Madrazo, 1870
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to use visible brushstrokes to create texture and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
5
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the subject's basic proportions and pose.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin tones, hair, and clothing.
- step 03
Start refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle color variations and highlights.
- step 04
Develop the beard and hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as buttons and folds.
- step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.
- step 08
Check proportions and likeness, making any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones using white, raw sienna, a touch of burnt umber, and a tiny amount of cadmium red for warmth. Use burnt umber and ivory black for dark areas, adding white to create lighter shades.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brush
- ·color mixing
- ·value studies
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
- →Using too much paint, obscuring the brushwork.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting.
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