plate no. 3979

Garcia de Silva y Figueroa

Alejandro Cabeza, 2017

oilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfiguremanbeardfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with light and shadow. It also provides practice in color mixing and creating subtle tonal variations.

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 head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and clothing with a thin wash of dark color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and beard using broad strokes.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Add highlights to the face, beard, and collar to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 06
Soften edges and blend transitions between light and shadow.
step 07
Add details to the beard and hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a realistic and expressive portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · ivory black · raw sienna

Mix various shades of skin tones using yellow ochre, cadmium red, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the dark background and clothing. Add raw sienna to warm up the skin tones.

techniques

·alla prima
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·blending
·value study

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in color temperature.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, ivory black, raw sienna)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil