plate no. 5771

Aligi

mixed technique, paperRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingheadwearneutral background

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in value shading, capturing likeness, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in working with a limited color palette to achieve a realistic effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with broad strokes of charcoal or a mid-tone paint.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the angles and proportions of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Build up the darker values in the hair, clothing, and background, using a darker shade of your chosen medium.
step 05
Add highlights to the face and clothing using white or a very light tint.
step 06
Blend the values to create smooth transitions, but leave some visible brushstrokes for texture.
step 07
Add details such as the earring and subtle wrinkles.
step 08
Adjust values and details as needed to achieve a likeness and a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · light ochre

Mix raw umber and white to create various shades of gray for the skin tones. Use a touch of black to deepen shadows and light ochre to warm up the background.

techniques