Portrait of an Old Man with Sad Eyes and a Beard

This is a portrait of an old man with sad eyes and a beard. The portrait was first sketched loosely with a pen to set the initial position of facial features like the eyes, nose, mouth and beard. Grey markers were used to define shadows and add depth to the face and wrinkles. Pink and Blue oil pastels create cracks and mottled areas of color. The blue in particular was applied loosely around wrinkles to heighten their depth and intensity. A white gel pen was used to add pin point highlights and reflections in the eyes. Opaque black gouache was painted around the entire head, which simultaneously identifies with the depressed expression and sharply contrasts the shape of the old man’s face in defiance. A plum colored paint pen was used to add expressionistic energy and movement and mounts the face in the darkness. Black watercolor was used to add more gradients to the shadows and create rough patterns and textures as the water was repelled by the oil pastel. The old man gazes forlorn, slightly down, past the viewer with a troubled look in his eyes.