plate no. 0622

Andrew Fergus

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanrobebeardbook

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures like fabric and hair using visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the robe and other clothing, capturing the folds and textures.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Achieve the dark robe color by mixing black and raw umber. Use red and white to create the red robe.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·layering
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong
→Over-blending the skin tones
→Making the colors too saturated
→Ignoring the value structure

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red, yellow ochre)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits