plate no. 1509
Amadeo Modigliani
Andrey Allakhverdov, 2015
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through layering and brushwork. It also encourages observation of complex compositions and relationships between objects.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and the statue, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of green and yellow hues.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones for each figure using a limited palette of reds, yellows, and whites.
- step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the forms of the faces, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
- step 06
Add details to the painting within the painting and the artist's palette.
- step 07
Refine the brushwork and add final touches to the figures and background.
- step 08
Varnish the painting after it is completely dry.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · cadmium yellow light
Mix skin tones by combining white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber for shadows. Achieve the greens by mixing blue and yellow with varying amounts of white.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·alla prima
- ·color layering
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
- →Losing the freshness of the brushwork by overworking the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time of the oil paints.
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