plate no. 5303

Sheikh Sattam de Haddadin of Palmyra

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanheadscarfclothingbeard

some experience helpful

This painting offers a great opportunity to practice portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and using expressive lines to define form. Students will also develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and creating texture with charcoal or pastels.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing.
step 03
Begin adding mid-tones to create depth and volume.
step 04
Mix skin tone colors using browns, reds, and yellows, and apply them in layers.
step 05
Use darker values to define the features and create contrast.
step 06
Add details to the headscarf and clothing, paying attention to patterns and textures.
step 07
Refine the drawing with highlights and subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · raw sienna

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white

Mix browns and reds with white for skin tones. Use black and white to create shades of gray for the clothing. Add small amounts of blue to darken shadows.

techniques

·cross-hatching
·blending
·scumbling
·value shading
·portrait drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the drawing and losing the expressive quality.
→Incorrect proportions of the facial features.
→Muddying the colors by over-mixing.
→Ignoring the light source and creating flat shading.

materials

surface · toned paper (gray or tan)

required

·charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
·white chalk or pastel
·toned paper (gray or tan)
·kneaded eraser
·blending stumps
·fixative spray

optional

·colored pencils
·watercolor pencils
·palette knife

Using toned paper will help to establish mid-tones and create a more dynamic drawing. Experiment with different charcoal grades to achieve a range of values.

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