plate no. 9005

Robert Thorpe

oilRomanticismportraitportraitmanfigurebeardclothinghead

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including 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
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of dark green and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, using a mix of earth tones and reds.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the values and highlights.
step 05
Add details to the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the clothing with broad strokes, capturing the folds and shadows.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to the clothing and face.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and flesh tones by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the browns and create shadows.

techniques