plate no. 8168

Joseph Dreyfus

oilRealismportraitportraitmanbeardsuitfigureclothing

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and red.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the beard and hair, using small, controlled brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the suit and tie, focusing on the folds and shadows in the fabric.
step 07
Add the hand, paying attention to the anatomy and proportions.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones.

techniques