plate no. 7360
Portrait of an Old Man
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and capturing the texture of hair and fabric. It also provides practice in creating depth through subtle value changes and glazing techniques.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a warm underpainting.
- step 02
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and composition of the portrait.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
- step 04
Develop the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of ochre, red, and white.
- step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Paint the beard and hair using a variety of brushstrokes and values to create texture.
- step 07
Refine the clothing and background, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre
Achieve skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of red, yellow ochre, and burnt umber. Use thin glazes of burnt umber and ivory black to create shadows and depth.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·value layering
- ·portrait drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting lost in details too early.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·mahogany oil paint
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grit canvas will provide a good surface for layering and blending.
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