plate no. 5794

Vicente Blasco Ibáñez

Alejandro Cabeza, 2018

oil, linenContemporary Realismportraitportraitfiguremansuitclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait painting, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as understanding subtle value shifts to create form and depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, mixing subtle variations of color to capture the nuances of light and shadow on the face and hands.
step 04
Develop the details of the suit, paying attention to the folds and highlights to create a sense of volume and texture.
step 05
Work on the background, blending the colors smoothly to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 06
Refine the facial features, adding details such as the eyes, nose, and mouth to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Add highlights and details to the clothing and accessories, such as the collar and tie.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors, ensuring that the painting has a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, cadmium red light, titanium white, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the suit, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.

techniques