
plate no. 3269
Hans von Aachen, 1574
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
approach — 8 steps
Begin with a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figures.
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes of color.
Focus on the faces, carefully building up the skin tones with layers of subtle color variations.
Pay attention to the details of the ruff, using small brushstrokes to create the texture and folds.
Render the clothing, capturing the folds and highlights with varying shades of brown and gold.
Refine the details of the faces, adding highlights to the eyes and teeth to create a sense of liveliness.
Add the subtle patterns on the clothing using a fine brush.
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
common pitfalls
surface · stretched canvas
required
optional
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 inches) is recommended for beginners.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein

Apollo and the Muses (Parnassus)
Lavinia Fontana

Portrait Of Don Rodrigo Vasquez
El Greco

Madonna Bolognini
Correggio

The Unhappy Lot of the Rich
Maerten van Heemskerck

Head of a Woman
Orazio Gentileschi

The Deposition
Giorgio Vasari

Portrait of a Man Holding a Letter
Francesco de' Rossi (Francesco Salviati), "Cecchino"

Portrait of the Physician Carlo Fontana
Bartolomeo Passerotti