plate no. 5353

A Neapolitan fisherman

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanheadscarfprofileold age

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand value relationships and how to create form with limited color palette. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the head and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and clothing with a dark value mix.
step 03
Block in the mid-tones on the face, headscarf, and clothing, gradually building up the form.
step 04
Add highlights to the face, nose, and headscarf, using a lighter value mix.
step 05
Define the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth with small, precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Create texture in the hair and beard using dry brush techniques.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend the transitions between values.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · payne's gray

Achieve various shades of gray by mixing black and white in different ratios. Add small amounts of raw umber or payne's gray to warm or cool the grays.

techniques