plate no. 0108

the Brother of the Artist, Eduard Egger

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a muted, harmonious color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna, using visible brushstrokes.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, hair, and clothing with simplified color masses.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending subtle variations of color.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Define the clothing and hair with darker values and more distinct brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones by blending white with small amounts of raw sienna, burnt umber, and cadmium red light. Use ivory black to create darker values and shadows. Mix yellow ochre with white for highlights.

techniques