plate no. 5823

Cover Design, Portrait of Kamal-Al-Molk

gouache, paperContemporary Realismportraitportraitmanglassesmustacheclothingfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait painting, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in using a limited color palette to create subtle variations in value and temperature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the portrait, paying attention to the angle of the head and the placement of facial features.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, even wash of color.
step 03
Begin blocking in the main areas of color on the face, using thin washes of diluted paint.
step 04
Gradually build up the values on the face, layering colors to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes and precise strokes.
step 06
Paint the clothing, using a combination of wet-on-wet and dry brush techniques to create texture.
step 07
Add the glasses and mustache, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the composition.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

Mix raw sienna and white for the base skin tone, adding small amounts of burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create shadows and variations in temperature. Use black and white to create the gray tones for the hair and mustache.

techniques