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home·artworks·Face of the man
Face of the man by Maurice Quentin de La Tour

plate no. 3787

Face of the man

Maurice Quentin de La Tour

oilRococoportraitportraitmanfacehairclothing
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportioning and subtle color blending to achieve realistic skin tones. It also offers practice in rendering fine details like hair and facial hair.

technical profile

palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
5

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, face, and shoulders.

  2. step 02

    Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of a mid-tone color.

  3. step 03

    Begin building up the skin tones by layering thin glazes of color, focusing on the subtle variations in hue and value.

  4. step 04

    Pay close attention to the structure of the face, using highlights and shadows to define the cheekbones, nose, and brow.

  5. step 05

    Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, ensuring accurate placement and proportion.

  6. step 06

    Render the hair and facial hair with delicate brushstrokes, capturing the texture and direction of the strands.

  7. step 07

    Paint the clothing with simple shapes and subtle shading.

  8. step 08

    Refine the overall composition and add any final details.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and umber. Use blue and black sparingly to create shadows and cool tones.

techniques

  • ·glazing
  • ·blending
  • ·scumbling
  • ·chiaroscuro
  • ·portraiture

common pitfalls

  • →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
  • →Incorrect proportions, leading to an unrealistic likeness.
  • →Ignoring subtle variations in skin tone.
  • →Overworking details too early in the process.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
  • ·titanium white oil paint
  • ·yellow ochre oil paint
  • ·burnt umber oil paint
  • ·cadmium red light oil paint
  • ·ivory black oil paint
  • ·ultramarine blue oil paint
  • ·assorted round and flat brushes

optional

  • ·palette knife
  • ·linseed oil
  • ·odorless mineral spirits
  • ·medium gloss

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will facilitate blending.

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