plate no. 7120

Portrait of a Man with an Arrow

oil, oakNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitmanarrowclothinghatface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations to create form. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures, such as skin and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the proportions of the head, shoulders, and arrow.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, hat, and background.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color to create form.
step 04
Work on the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add the details of the clothing, including the collar and the folds in the fabric.
step 06
Paint the arrow, paying attention to its shape and texture.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring that it is dark and even.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Dark areas are created by adding raw umber and ivory black to the skin tone mix.

techniques