plate no. 3619

John Moody

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghat

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in value shading, portrait proportions, and capturing likeness. It also offers practice in creating subtle tonal variations within a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting, focusing on the hat and shadows in the clothing.
step 03
Begin layering in mid-tones, gradually building up the form of the face and clothing.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle value changes in the face to create a realistic likeness.
step 05
Add highlights to the face, collar, and clothing to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Soften edges and blend tones to create a smooth, realistic effect.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre

Achieve the various shades by mixing raw umber and ivory black with varying amounts of titanium white. Use yellow ochre sparingly to warm up certain areas of the face.

techniques