plate no. 0937

Portrait of an African American Man

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)portraitportraitmanclothingshipwindowcurtain

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand portrait proportions and how to mix skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering simple forms and textures with limited color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and main features.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of green and brown, leaving space for the window and curtain.
step 03
Establish the main values of the face, using a base skin tone and adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the dark areas of the hair and clothing, paying attention to the shapes and folds.
step 05
Add the details of the shirt, bow tie, and buttons, using lighter values to create contrast.
step 06
Paint the window scene with the ship, using a limited palette of blues, greens, and whites.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, adding subtle highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · cerulean blue

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white. Use small amounts of red to add warmth. Achieve the background greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and white.

techniques