plate no. 4127

Head of an Old Peasant

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitmanbeardhairfacepeasant

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and creating subtle variations in skin tones. It will also improve their understanding of light and shadow in creating form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, focusing on the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Work on the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Adjust the background to complement the figure.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red light to add warmth to the cheeks and lips. Darken shadows with ivory black and burnt umber.

techniques

·scumbling
·dry brushing
·glazing
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Neglecting the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using too much paint, obscuring the texture of the canvas.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, raw sienna, ivory black, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife