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home·artworks·Two laughing men (double self-portrait)
Two laughing men (double self-portrait) by Hans von Aachen

plate no. 3269

Two laughing men (double self-portrait)

Hans von Aachen, 1574

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)self-portraitfiguresportraitmenclothingrufffaces
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing facial expressions and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and subtle variations in light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Begin with a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figures.

  2. step 02

    Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes of color.

  3. step 03

    Focus on the faces, carefully building up the skin tones with layers of subtle color variations.

  4. step 04

    Pay attention to the details of the ruff, using small brushstrokes to create the texture and folds.

  5. step 05

    Render the clothing, capturing the folds and highlights with varying shades of brown and gold.

  6. step 06

    Refine the details of the faces, adding highlights to the eyes and teeth to create a sense of liveliness.

  7. step 07

    Add the subtle patterns on the clothing using a fine brush.

  8. step 08

    Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use yellow ochre and white to create highlights on the clothing.

techniques

  • ·portraiture
  • ·glazing
  • ·scumbling
  • ·chiaroscuro
  • ·portraiture

common pitfalls

  • →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
  • →Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
  • →Getting lost in the details before establishing the overall form.
  • →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·Stretched canvas
  • ·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw sienna)
  • ·Linseed oil
  • ·Odorless mineral spirits
  • ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
  • ·Palette
  • ·Palette knife
  • ·Rags

optional

  • ·medium gloss
  • ·retouch varnish

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 inches) is recommended for beginners.

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