Now I normally do not show this because the basic underpainting is kind of kindergartenish! But the real first step in creating the oil is to put the sketch to work on canvas, and then paint the back ground colors in blobs. Once these are in place you begin to use thins washes to bring out the details. Sometimes it takes many weeks to get these details down. Here is a blob on my Blog!

First thing we try to do with a Portrait is to make up a compositional sketch. In the 1770's, artists would use tinted paper, graphite, red, black and white chalk to draw up a facimilie to show the commissioner before investing a lot of time and energy in actually doing a oil painting.

The King of Spain and his family were portrayed by Goya and the casting people did a good job. Most of the principles looked like the actor/actress. Even Goya. His real Muse was probably not quite Natalie Portman!

GOYA Y LUCIENTES, Francisco deCharles IV and his Family c. 1800
Oil on canvas, 280 x 336 cm
http://www.wga.hu/art/g/goya/4/418goya.jpg

Goya

Goya’ works online: (among other places, but here are some sketches and portraits. You can do a Google search to find images. But one place has them all.

The portrait of the man I was thinking of as being the king of Spain in the movie time line was actually a former king. Randy Quaid played the Goya King very well INHO:

Charles III in Hunting Costume 1786-88Oil on canvas, 210 x 127 cm

http://www.wga.hu/art/g/goya/2/211goya.jpg

Many thanks to the Web site I used to illustrate most of this blog:

http://www.wga.hu/

GOYA and the Movie "Goya's Ghosts"

Remember this movie is a work of fiction. From the modern mind set.
Read this most interesting review first.

http://www.apolloguide.com/mov_fullrev.asp?CID=5539


Of coure, It is my intention to study the portrayed characters we do know who existed and also to examine the myth of the muse Truth is I have concentrated on American and English Artists of note and a few others who I felt compelled to study.

On in particular is APPIANI, Andrea
(b. 1754, Milano, d. 1817, Milano)
He did a portrait of Napoleon's favorite general, General Desaix whom the errant priest so much resembled.

http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/a/appiani/desaix.html