plate no. 3544

After the life mask of William Blake

Francis Bacon, 1955

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigureheaddark backgroundexpressionism

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing form with limited color palette. It also encourages exploration of emotional expression through distorted representation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Start with a charcoal sketch of the head and neck, focusing on basic proportions and angles.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral color (e.g., Payne's gray or black).
step 03
Begin layering in the lighter areas of the face with a mix of white, pink, and a touch of yellow.
step 04
Introduce cooler tones (blues, greens, purples) in the shadows and recesses of the face.
step 05
Use bold, visible brushstrokes to define the planes of the face and create texture.
step 06
Focus on capturing the expressive quality of the face rather than precise realism.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, paying attention to the interplay of light and shadow.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Mix white with crimson and a touch of yellow ochre for the skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and crimson to create purples for shadows. Payne's gray can be used to darken the background and add depth.

techniques

·expressive brushwork
·color layering
·scumbling
·limited palette
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→over-blending
→getting bogged down in details
→losing the expressive quality
→using too many colors
→not enough contrast

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, payne's gray)
·palette
·assorted brushes (various sizes, including flat and round)
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags