plate no. 7779

Portraite of Robert Mitchum

Zani Corrado, 2018

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanfaceheadclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using expressive brushstrokes to define form. It also focuses on understanding and applying value contrast to create depth and dimension.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and features of the face onto the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, blending blues, greens, and yellows.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of browns, grays, and whites.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Build up layers of paint, using thicker brushstrokes to add texture and detail.
step 06
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 07
Add highlights to the face and hair to enhance the contrast.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and details.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, titanium white, and small amounts of yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create dark shadows.

techniques