plate no. 9408

Portrait of a Man in a Black Wig

oilBaroqueportraitportraitmanwigclothingdraperyfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and drapery.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark areas of the background, hair, and clothing.
step 03
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 04
Develop the folds and highlights in the drapery, using a combination of blending and scumbling techniques.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Refine the hands and other details, such as the collar and buttons.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Add small amounts of alizarin crimson to create the reddish tones in the clothing and face. Use yellow ochre to create highlights in the drapery and hair.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·value blocking
·blending
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating harsh lines and edges.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, titanium white, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags