plate no. 3988
Federico Rubio y Gali
Alejandro Cabeza, 2016
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportion and capturing likeness, as well as understanding how to use value and color to create form and depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's proportions and pose on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes of the face, beard, and clothing with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the darkest and lightest values to create a sense of form.
- step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations.
- step 05
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with careful brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add details to the beard, using broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 07
Refine the clothing and background, ensuring they recede into the shadows.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black to create the darks in the background and clothing. Add a touch of green to the beard to give it depth.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the paint.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the light and dark areas.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the face and beard.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for this study. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the dark background.
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