plate no. 9703
Black Man
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture basics, including proportion and capturing likeness, as well as layering and blending colors to create depth and form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, turban, and shoulders.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of ochre and raw sienna.
- step 03
Establish the darkest values of the face using a mix of burnt umber and black.
- step 04
Begin layering lighter tones on the face to define the planes and features.
- step 05
Paint the turban with white, adding subtle shadows with gray and blue.
- step 06
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the shirt with light blue and white, following the folds and creases.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · black
secondary · light blue · ochre
Mix burnt umber and black for the darkest skin tones. Use white to create lighter skin tones, adding small amounts of raw sienna and ochre for warmth. Mix white with a touch of blue for the shirt and turban shadows.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Over-blending and losing the texture of the brushstrokes.
- →Making the skin tones too flat and lifeless.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the turban.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·black oil paint
- ·ochre oil paint
- ·light blue oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
