plate no. 8077

Alphonse Cherfils

oilRealismportraitportraitmanbeardclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using a limited palette to create depth and form. It also offers practice in visible brushwork and blending techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a neutral gray or brown.
step 02
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas of the painting, such as the hair, clothing, and background, using a dark gray or black.
step 04
Begin to build up the mid-tones and highlights on the face, using a lighter gray or white.
step 05
Pay close attention to the values and shapes of the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the beard and hair, using small, deliberate brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the edges and contours of the figure, blending the tones together to create a smooth transition.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · payne's gray

Mix various shades of gray by combining ivory black and titanium white in different ratios. Add small amounts of raw umber or payne's gray to warm or cool the grays as needed.

techniques