plate no. 4603

Old Dervish in the Mosque

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfigurebeardwindowclothingglasses

experienced study

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thinned paint.
step 03
Begin layering colors, focusing on the skin tones and the clothing.
step 04
Develop the background, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns created by the window.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add texture to the beard and clothing using dry brush techniques.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · cadmium yellow light

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of yellow ochre and ivory black for shadows. The green turban is a mix of viridian and yellow ochre, lightened with white.

techniques