plate no. 5738

Modellstudie, Alte Frau, Halbes Profil

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureold womanprofileclothinghair

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in rendering form with subtle value changes and creating texture with hatching and cross-hatching techniques. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and conveying a sense of character.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with broad, light strokes.
step 03
Begin to build up darker values in the shadows, using hatching and cross-hatching.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair and clothing, using a variety of stroke directions and pressures.
step 06
Soften edges and blend values where necessary to create a sense of form.
step 07
Add final highlights to the lightest areas of the face and hair.
step 08
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to values and details.

color palette

primary · sepia · ivory black

secondary · raw umber · burnt umber

Mix sepia with ivory black for darker tones, and dilute with water or medium for lighter shades. Raw umber and burnt umber can be used to add subtle warmth or coolness to the shadows.

techniques