plate no. 6399

Christopher Nugent

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremanprofilehandhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering skin tones and hair with limited color palettes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure's clothing with a mid-tone brown.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, starting with the shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Work on the hair, using short, directional strokes to suggest texture and volume.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add subtle highlights to the clothing and background to create depth.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add richness.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create shadows by adding burnt umber and black to the skin tone mixture. Use thin glazes of burnt umber and black to create depth in the background.

techniques