plate no. 9301

Portrait of a man

Arturo Souto, 1945

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitportraitmanfigureclothingbookbeard

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait painting, color mixing for skin tones and clothing, and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a mood.

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 figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted blues and grays.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and book, using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the collar, tie, and cape, using layering and blending techniques.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the hands and book to create form and dimension.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, burnt sienna, and a touch of raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create the dark tones of the suit. Mix viridian with raw umber for the green accents.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·color mixing
·glazing
·blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch
→Muddying the colors by over-mixing
→Ignoring the subtle value changes in the face

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints: raw umber, titanium white, ivory black, burnt sienna, viridian, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags