plate no. 7588
Head of An Old Man
Quentin Matsys, 1525
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of light and shadow to model form.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
5
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, beard, and clothing.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones and the background.
- step 04
Begin to refine the details of the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add texture to the beard using dry brush techniques.
- step 06
Refine the details of the clothing and background.
- step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to adjust the tones and values.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · raw sienna
secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue to create the dark background.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·dry brush
- ·blending
- ·value study
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Losing the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#4 filbert brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before painting.
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