plate no. 1121
Portrait of a man with a white cloak
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and cloak.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and cloak, focusing on accurate value relationships.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, mustache, and beard, using small, controlled brushstrokes.
- step 06
Develop the folds and drapery of the cloak, using a combination of blending and broken color.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt sienna, raw umber, and white. Use black sparingly to create shadows. Achieve the white of the cloak by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre to create subtle variations.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·value study
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions and features of the face.
- →Using too much black, which can make the painting look muddy.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value in the white cloak.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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