plate no. 2851

Portrait of a man

oilRococoportraitportraitmanfigureclothingprofilewig

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in portraiture, focusing on subtle value changes to create form and capturing likeness. Students will learn to blend colors smoothly and create a sense of depth with limited color variations.

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 of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tone and hair color.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to define the facial features and create highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 06
Refine the hair, adding individual strands and highlights.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to achieve a harmonious balance.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and cadmium red light to create the skin tones. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark clothing. Add a touch of blue to the background to create depth.

techniques