plate no. 5079

Portrait of an old man

oilRomanticismportraitportraitold manbeardfigureheadhand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait painting, particularly in rendering skin tones and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also offers practice in capturing the texture of hair and beard.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, hand, and beard.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or similar neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, beard, background, and clothing.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying close attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the texture of the beard using small, directional brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Adjust the background and clothing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black to create shadows. Add small amounts of blue to cool down certain areas.

techniques