plate no. 9072

The old Stubb

oilRomanticismportraitportraitmanfigureclothingwalking stick

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, focusing on proportions and placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the background, clothing, and skin tones with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the values in the face, paying close attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Refine the details of the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the clothing, adding depth and texture with darker values and subtle highlights.
step 06
Paint the hands and walking stick, paying attention to their form and texture.
step 07
Adjust the background to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Achieve darker values by adding ivory black or raw umber to the base colors. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create a neutral grey for the background.

techniques

·portraiture
·value studies
·scumbling
·glazing
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the figure.
→Using colors that are too saturated or intense.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits