plate no. 4967
Face of inspired young man
Cesare Tallone, 1895
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hair.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
- step 06
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 07
Add subtle highlights to the face and hair to enhance the overall effect.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by blending burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and yellow ochre for highlights.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Overworking the painting, resulting in a stiff or unnatural look.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color harmony.
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