plate no. 9682

Old man's head

oilBaroqueportraitportraitmanheadbeardold agefigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering skin tones and creating depth with subtle value changes. It's also a good exercise in capturing a specific expression and mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic outline of the head and shoulders, paying attention to proportions and the angle of the head.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and clothing with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face with mid-tone browns and ochres.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of brown, ochre, and white.
step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle value changes around the eyes, nose, and mouth to create a realistic likeness.
step 06
Add highlights to the forehead, cheekbones, and beard to create a sense of depth and form.
step 07
Refine the details of the hair and beard, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and convincing portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · ivory black · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium yellow for warmth and ivory black to deepen shadows.

techniques