plate no. 6239

Arabian Head

Nasreddine Dinet, 1901

oil, canvasOrientalismportraitportraitfigurehatdesertheadscarfclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing skin tones and facial features, as well as understanding light and shadow to create form. It will also help students practice painting fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the large areas of color with thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering in the darker values to define the shadows and create depth.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones and highlights, paying attention to the subtle variations in color.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add texture to the hat and clothing using dry brush techniques.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium orange · ivory black

Mix raw umber and titanium white for the skin tones, adjusting the ratio to create lighter and darker values. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the hat, mixing with white for highlights. Add small amounts of ivory black to darken shadows.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
→Overworking the details before establishing the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium orange, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags