Portrait of an old man

approach — 8 steps

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones and add highlights. A touch of cadmium red light can be used for subtle color variations in the face and clothing.

techniques

• ·dry brush texture
• ·scumbling
• ·layering
• ·alla prima
• ·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

• →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
• →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
• →Using too much color and creating a painting that is too bright.
• →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create a sense of depth.