plate no. 4692

The head of an old man

oilAcademicismsketch and studyportraitmanbeardheadold agefacial expression

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering realistic facial features. It also provides practice in creating texture, especially in the beard and hair.

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 of the head, beard, and hair.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending colors, paying attention to subtle variations.
step 05
Begin adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Work on the beard and hair, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
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 painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix various combinations of yellow ochre, burnt umber, and cadmium red light to achieve the skin tones. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue or ivory black to create shadows and cool tones.

techniques