plate no. 2121
Wenzel III
Josef Kriehuber, 1828
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering fabric folds and patterns, as well as portraiture techniques for capturing likeness and expression.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall figure and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes of the robe, crown, and scepter.
- step 03
Establish the base colors for the robe, skin, and other elements.
- step 04
Add shading and highlights to create depth and volume.
- step 05
Develop the fabric folds and drapery with careful observation.
- step 06
Paint the details of the crown and scepter.
- step 07
Refine the facial features and expression.
- step 08
Add the background and any final details.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson
secondary · gold · purple · brown
Mix yellow ochre with burnt sienna and white for the robe's base color. Use ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson for the purples. Mix gold with yellow ochre and a touch of brown.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·hatching
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Not establishing a strong value structure.
- →Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the fabric.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·water
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. Consider using a medium to slow down the drying time of the acrylics.
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