plate no. 3716
Portrait of a Man
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating subtle gradations of value to model form.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
- step 03
Focus on establishing the correct skin tones, mixing a range of values from light to shadow.
- step 04
Gradually build up the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
- step 05
Define the clothing and collar, using darker values to create contrast.
- step 06
Refine the edges and details, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
- step 07
Add the inscription in the upper left corner.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and values.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by combining white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ivory black to deepen shadows and create darker values. Mix yellow ochre and white for highlights.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·value studies
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or bright.
- →Not paying enough attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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