plate no. 0270

Portrait of a man

Nicolae Vermont, 1918

oilRealismportraitportraitmansuitfacemustachetie

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in capturing likeness, mixing skin tones, and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering fabric textures and details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of features.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the face, suit, and background with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin layering in darker values to define shadows and contours.
step 04
Mix and apply skin tones, focusing on subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the suit and tie, paying attention to fabric texture.
step 07
Adjust the background to create depth and contrast.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. The suit is primarily black with subtle variations achieved by mixing in umber and white.

techniques