plate no. 6592

An Old Man Thinking

wood, oil, panelBaroqueportraitportraitold manfigurebeardclothingtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in painting textures like fabric and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and table.
step 02
Establish the overall composition and placement of the subject.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of burnt umber to create an underpainting, defining the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones using thin layers of paint, focusing on the subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Paint the clothing and background, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final details and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use ivory black and burnt umber for dark areas, and add white for highlights.

techniques