plate no. 0546

Portrait of a man with a cigarette

oil, canvasAcademicismportraitportraitmancigaretteclothingfigurebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering of light and shadow on the face, and capturing the likeness of a subject. It also offers practice in painting realistic textures of clothing and skin.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the figure and the main shapes of the clothing on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of muted browns and greens, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, using a limited palette of flesh tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and creases to convey the texture of the fabric.
step 06
Add details such as the cigarette, the hands, and the subtle patterns on the chair.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of harmony and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Darken colors with burnt umber or ivory black, and lighten with titanium white.

techniques