plate no. 1511
Young Cavalier
Rosalba Carriera, 1730
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering soft, subtle gradations in skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabrics and textures.
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 basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and wig.
- step 02
Establish the background with soft, blended pastel strokes.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, focusing on shadows and highlights.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle curves and planes.
- step 05
Add details to the wig, using short, curved strokes to suggest individual hairs.
- step 06
Block in the dark tones of the jacket and the lighter tones of the shirt and scarf.
- step 07
Refine the folds and details of the clothing, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for shadows. Mix blue and white for the background.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·hatching
- ·soft pastel application
common pitfalls
- →overblending, leading to a muddy appearance
- →incorrect proportions
- →lack of attention to subtle value changes
- →overworking details too early
materials
surface · pastel paper
required
- ·soft pastels
- ·pastel pencils
- ·pastel paper
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·blending stumps
- ·fixative spray
- ·drawing board
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·workable fixative
- ·color shapers
Use a sanded pastel paper for better pastel adhesion. Apply fixative sparingly to avoid darkening the colors.
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