plate no. 3208

Head of an old man

oilRococoportraitportraitmanbeardhairold manclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering textures like hair and fur using varied brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and beard.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral tone.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and beard using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up layers of paint to define the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle transitions in value.
step 05
Add details to the hair and beard, using small, directional brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the clothing and background, ensuring they remain secondary to the face.
step 07
Add highlights to the eyes and other key areas to create focal points.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve the skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, adjusting the proportions to create variations in value and temperature. Use small amounts of cadmium red light for the cheeks and lips. Mix ivory black and burnt umber to create the dark background.

techniques