plate no. 2937

Portrait of an Old Man with an Onion

oil, canvasTenebrismportraitfigureportraitoniongarlictableold man

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand dramatic lighting (tenebrism) and how to model forms using value. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures, such as skin and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the dark areas with deeper values, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 04
Gradually add highlights and mid-tones, blending carefully to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, hands, and objects, focusing on accurate rendering of textures.
step 06
Pay close attention to the edges of forms, softening or sharpening them as needed to create depth.
step 07
Add final glazes to unify the colors and enhance the overall effect.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to the values, colors, or details.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of umber, ochre, and red. Use glazes of umber and black to create deep shadows.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·dry brushing
·blending

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Over-blending, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
→Neglecting the importance of edges in creating depth.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags