plate no. 1099

Portrait of Menzel's brother Richard

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanhairclothingprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, specifically in capturing subtle tonal variations in skin and hair, and in creating a sense of depth using warm and cool colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the background with a warm ochre tone.
step 04
Begin layering in the skin tones, focusing on the subtle shifts in value and temperature.
step 05
Paint the hair, paying attention to the direction of the light and the individual strands.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and collar.
step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Shadows are created by adding burnt umber and a hint of blue to the skin tone mixture. Hair is a mix of black, burnt umber, and a touch of blue.

techniques