plate no. 2839

Portrait of a Man

printBaroqueportraitportraitmanclothingbackgroundtablehand

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students understand value relationships and how to create form using limited color palettes. It will also develop skills in portraiture and rendering textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the composition using a dark neutral tone.
step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones, paying attention to the subtle value changes that define the form.
step 04
Add the highlights, focusing on areas where light is most intense.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, hands, and clothing, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Create the background, paying attention to the subtle value gradations.
step 07
Add the details of the table and vase.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · burnt umber

Mix various shades of gray by combining ivory black and titanium white in different ratios. Add small amounts of raw umber or burnt umber to warm up the grays as needed.

techniques