plate no. 1375
Portrait of a Man
Nicolaes Maes, 1656
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. Students will also learn to create depth and form using chiaroscuro techniques.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure: hat, face, clothing, and hands.
- step 04
Begin layering skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, including eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Develop the clothing and hat, focusing on the folds and textures.
- step 07
Add details to the hands, capturing the subtle forms and wrinkles.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and realism.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red light · raw sienna
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Dark areas are created by mixing ivory black and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·value studies
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in value, resulting in a flat image.
- →Not blending the edges of the shadows properly.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium such as linseed oil can be used to thin the paint and improve flow.
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