plate no. 2324

The Family Dégenfeld

oilRomanticismportraitfiguresportraitfamilylandscapetreesclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones, as well as practice with depicting complex fabrics and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background, focusing on the atmospheric perspective and soft transitions.
step 04
Start refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Work on the clothing, building up layers of color to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add details such as jewelry, hair, and fabric folds.
step 07
Refine the overall color harmony and adjust values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · viridian · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use viridian and yellow ochre to create the greens in the background. Mix ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson for the purples.

techniques