plate no. 0673

Portrait of Philippe Burty

oilRealismportraitportraitmanprofilebeardhairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and hair, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of green and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on the nose, eyes, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair and beard, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow hue · viridian

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white. Use raw umber and black for shadows. Add small amounts of viridian to darken the background.

techniques