plate no. 9949

An Old Man from Olonets

oilExpressionismportraitportraitold manwindowbeardhatfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing character and using expressive brushstrokes to define form. It also offers practice in mixing subtle color variations to create depth and dimension.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, window, and hat.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of color, focusing on the planes of the face.
step 04
Paint the beard using a combination of short, directional brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 05
Define the details of the hat and clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 06
Add the background details of the window, using cool blues and grays.
step 07
Refine the overall composition by adjusting values and adding highlights.
step 08
Add final details and touch-ups to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green

Mix skin tones by combining raw umber, white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use ultramarine blue and white for the cool tones of the window. Create the hat color by mixing raw umber, sap green, and a touch of ultramarine blue.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brushing
·layering
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the beard, leading to a monotonous texture.
→Failing to establish a clear light source, making the painting look flat and confusing.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong, resulting in an inaccurate likeness.