plate no. 7507
Old Man
Laszlo Mednyanszky, 1918
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing a likeness with simplified forms. It also encourages experimentation with color temperature and creating depth through layering.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic figure proportions and pose lightly on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of the background with broad strokes of yellow, green, and white.
- step 03
Establish the main values of the figure's coat and hat using burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the face, focusing on the beard and hat.
- step 05
Refine the background, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 06
Add details to the coat, suggesting folds and texture with darker and lighter tones.
- step 07
Paint the bouquet of flowers, using small dabs of color to represent the individual blooms.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall impression.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · viridian green · yellow ochre · cadmium red
Achieve the warm browns by mixing burnt umber with raw sienna and a touch of red. Use white to lighten values and green to create cooler shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·alla prima
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can distract from the figure.
- →Not paying attention to the values, which can flatten the image.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·round brushes (#4, #6)
- ·flat brushes (#8, #10)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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