plate no. 5969
Portrait of an Old Man
Eduard von Gebhardt, 1913
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing the texture of skin and hair with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using a limited color palette and value contrast.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
5
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and beard.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and clothing with a dark, neutral color.
- step 03
Block in the mid-tones of the face, using a mix of browns, yellows, and reds.
- step 04
Add highlights to the face and beard, focusing on areas where light hits.
- step 05
Develop the texture of the skin and hair with short, visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and form.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use raw umber and ivory black for the background and shadows. Add small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth in the cheeks and lips.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·layering
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending, which can flatten the image.
- →Using too much white, which can make the colors appear chalky.
- →Ignoring the underlying structure of the face.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a smooth surface for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
