plate no. 1684

Old man brim

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitold manbeardfigureheadclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with light and shadow. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and beard.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and beard with mid-tones.
step 04
Begin layering lighter tones on the face, focusing on the highlights on the forehead, nose, and cheekbones.
step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Add darker shadows to define the contours of the face and create depth.
step 07
Paint the red clothing, blending the colors to create soft transitions.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the beard and hair to create texture and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix burnt umber and ivory black for the dark background. Use raw sienna and titanium white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Mix burnt umber and cadmium red for the clothing.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
→Using too much paint and losing the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ivory black, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags