plate no. 1160
Self Portrait as An Old Man
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice portrait proportions, rendering skin tones, and creating depth through subtle value changes. It will also give experience in capturing the texture of hair and fabric with visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the head, shoulders, and hands.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of the background, clothing, and skin with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the darkest values in the clothing and background.
- step 04
Begin layering in the mid-tones and highlights on the face and hands.
- step 05
Add detail to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle value changes.
- step 06
Develop the texture of the beard and hair with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the details of the hands and clothing, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and value range.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark clothing, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.
techniques
- ·portrait sketching
- ·value studies
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating muddy or flat skin tones.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grit canvas for a slightly textured surface. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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