plate no. 6489
Man with Red Moustache
Hugo Simberg, 1903
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using subtle value changes and visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the background, clothing, and general skin tones.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of warm and cool colors.
- step 04
Focus on accurately rendering the shape and texture of the hair and moustache, using short, directional brushstrokes.
- step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle variations in value and color.
- step 06
Adjust the overall contrast and color balance to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a focal point.
- step 08
Glaze the painting with a thin layer of medium to unify the colors and add a subtle sheen.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ultramarine to cool down the skin tones in shadow areas. Create the moustache color by mixing cadmium red light with yellow ochre and a touch of white.
techniques
- ·portrait sketching
- ·value blocking
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Incorrect proportions, leading to a distorted likeness.
- →Ignoring subtle value changes, resulting in a lack of depth.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in an unnatural look.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 filbert brush
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Allow each layer of paint to dry slightly before applying the next.
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