plate no. 9046

Middle Easterner with Pipe

oil, panelOrientalismportraitportraitfiguremanpipeturbanclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as practicing chiaroscuro to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and pipe.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin layer of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, using a limited palette of earth tones and reds.
step 04
Begin building up the values, starting with the darkest shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the turban, pipe, and clothing, using smaller brushes and finer strokes.
step 07
Blend and soften edges as needed to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and red by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and cadmium red. Use white to lighten these colors for highlights, and a touch of blue or black to darken them for shadows.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·portraiture
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth and form.
→Inaccurate skin tone mixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels