Home Forums Explore Media Oil Painting Painting from the Masters Need help painting flesh tones like William Adolphe Bouguereau

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  • #455991
    Mona95
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        I am mesmerized by the way Bouguereau handled skin tones and want to learn his glazing techniques. His skin tones are so natural and realistic. How did he achieve such smoothness and luminosity in his paintings?

        #621275

        Like in most old master’s paintings, smoothness and luminosity come from tonal values very precisely adjusted.

        #621276
        highwaykind
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            Check out Cesar Santos on YouTube – he comes really really close to Bouguereau (and has several copies after him in his sketchbook videos).

            I’m pretty sure I read that Bouguereau didn’t glaze but painted alla prima? Santos paints in stages, a bit similar to the Flemish method.

            Still clueless myself as to how to paint like Bouguereau, but that’s the ultimate goal here too!

            CC/Corrections welcome

            #621284
            Humbaba
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                It is not a big deal, you just need to time to build the forms and blend the paint while it is still wet. Check from time to time the Artist Magazine, there you will see that painting like that it is possible, if you are lucky, you can also find tutorials.

                https://www.artistsnetwork.com/store/portrait-painting-with-oil

                #621280

                I’m pretty sure I read that Bouguereau didn’t glaze but painted alla prima?

                He did not work alla prima in his ‘finished works’. From what I’ve seen, he used at least three layers. A rather dull (colorwise) underpainting, a colored, (semi-)opaque overpainting and a finishing layer of glazes, highlights and details.

                Like in most old master’s paintings, smoothness and luminosity come from tonal values very precisely adjusted.

                I agree. The ‘secret’ is getting all the subtleties right.

                #621286
                JCannon
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                    A lot of people don’t know that Bouguereau was a knife painter. Apparently, the lower layers were accomplished via brush, brought to a degree of finish, and then were refined with a palette knife. He was able to use that tool to attain transitions that were almost airbrush-like.

                    Here is a description of his technique:

                    https://www.artrenewal.org/Article/Title/bouguereau-at-work

                    I’ve seen only two Bouguereaus “in the paint,” and I must confess that I never would have thought that a knife was employed at any point.

                    #621281

                    Bouguereau was a knife painter.

                    I don’t think the information in the article justifies calling Bougeureau a knife painter. I’d say he used a knife to ‘cut’ away thick paint and ridges, to make a smoother surface and to increase transparancy. I do this too, sometimes, and the best time to do this is when the paint is starting to solidify – just like the article mentions.

                    #621287
                    SeanInDublin
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                        I recently found some interesting threads in the Wet Canvas archives which mention Bouguereau.

                        I was searching for information on the “velatura” technique.

                        Just one example

                        https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345599

                        There are a few more if you search :)

                        Best wishes

                        #621285
                        Humbaba
                        Default

                            I recently found some interesting threads in the Wet Canvas archives which mention Bouguereau.

                            I was searching for information on the “velatura” technique.

                            Just one example

                            [URL]https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345599[/URL]

                            There are a few more if you search :)

                            Best wishes

                            Velatura or Veladura is “Glazing”, but translated from the Spanish Language.

                            #621277
                            highwaykind
                            Default

                                He did not work alla prima in his ‘finished works’. From what I’ve seen, he used at least three layers. A rather dull (colorwise) underpainting, a colored, (semi-)opaque overpainting and a finishing layer of glazes, highlights and details.

                                Thanks for the info! Makes me slightly more hopeful that I can one day come close (because no way I can do this all in 1 go). Do you have a source for this? I’d love to see his underpaintings!

                                CC/Corrections welcome

                                #621288
                                SeanInDublin
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                                    Velatura or Veladura is “Glazing”, but translated from the Spanish Language.

                                    “Trenta, quaranta velature!” was apparently something Titian said.

                                    The Wet Canvas archives have a number of differing opinions on whether it is a distinct technique or not.:rolleyes:

                                    It is certainly a useful one.:)

                                    #621282

                                    Thanks for the info! Makes me slightly more hopeful that I can one day come close (because no way I can do this all in 1 go). Do you have a source for this? I’d love to see his underpaintings!

                                    In the images below you can clearly see his underpainting in many places and also some overpainting. If you study high-res images of his finshed works, you can see this kind of underpainting there as well. Bouguereau left some of his underpainting visible, especially in the shadows and half-tones.

                                    In the third image you can see how he used a lighter scumble over darker tone in his underpainting to create a cooler half-tone. He was very effective in using optical effects caused by the interplay of layers.

                                    #621278
                                    highwaykind
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                                        Thank you !!

                                        CC/Corrections welcome

                                        #621293
                                        Mona95
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                                            Thank you everyone so much for your replies. It helped me a lot.

                                            I have been trying to copy one of Bouguereau’s paintings and this is the result. The colors are a bit distorted due to lighting. It took me around 5 months to paint this. What improvements can I make?

                                            #621289
                                            SeanInDublin
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                                                You seem to be doing well :)

                                                I suspect the only way to master a technique is long years of practice.

                                                Did you find this thread?

                                                https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501953

                                                Best wishes

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