plate no. 2314

Head of a Cowboy

oilRealismportraitportraitmancowboyhatbeardclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, hat, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones, hat, and clothing.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, including the fringe and any patterns.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and form.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, burnt sienna, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use raw umber and ivory black for shadows and darker areas. Yellow ochre can be added to the skin tone mix for warmth.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle value changes.
→Creating a flat, lifeless beard by not varying the brushstrokes.
→Ignoring the importance of reflected light in the shadows.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife