plate no. 5562

The head of Judas

oilRomanticismsketch and studyportraitmaleheadbeardprofilefigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using a limited palette to create subtle variations in tone and shadow. It also provides practice in rendering hair and facial hair with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

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 and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of light blue-green paint.
step 03
Establish the main shadow areas on the face and hair using a dark brown mixture.
step 04
Begin adding highlights to the face, focusing on the forehead, nose, and cheekbones.
step 05
Develop the beard and hair with short, broken brushstrokes, varying the tones of brown and black.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 07
Add the light yellow-cream color to the shirt, blending it softly into the background.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and edges to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix raw umber and Prussian blue for the darks in the hair and beard. Use titanium white to lighten the skin tones and create highlights. Add yellow ochre to the white for the shirt color.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·limited palette
·portraiture
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Making the shadows too dark or the highlights too bright.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value.
→Not capturing the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, Prussian blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags