plate no. 9691

Portrait of a Man

oilBaroqueportraitportraitmanruffchairclothingdrapery

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict complex textures and fabrics.

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 proportions and composition of the portrait.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background, focusing on the subtle gradations of light and shadow.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, layering colors to create depth and realism.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the ruff, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Work on the clothing, capturing the texture and patterns of the fabric.
step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use ivory black and raw umber for dark areas, lightening with titanium white for highlights.

techniques