plate no. 8955

Rag Picker

oilRealismgenre paintingfigureportraitold manclothingfabrichands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait painting, particularly rendering realistic skin tones and textures, and understanding how to depict folds and shadows in clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and the pile of rags.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure's clothing and skin, focusing on the overall values.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Work on the clothing, adding folds and wrinkles with darker and lighter values.
step 07
Add the details of the hands and the white cloth, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red to warm the skin tones. Mix ultramarine blue with burnt umber to create the darker tones in the clothing.

techniques