plate no. 2774

Artist Ion Tuculescu

George Stefanescu, 1967

oil, cardboardExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create form and mood. It also encourages observation of light and shadow in portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the cardboard.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up layers of color with visible brushstrokes, focusing on the face first.
step 04
Mix colors directly on the canvas to create variations and texture.
step 05
Use short, directional brushstrokes to define the form of the face and clothing.
step 06
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 07
Refine the background with expressive brushstrokes, using complementary colors to create contrast.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · viridian green · ivory black

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of viridian green. Darken colors with ivory black or burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue to cool down greens.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Ignoring the underlying structure of the face.
→Using too much detail in the background.

materials

surface · cardboard panel

required

·Oil paints (yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian green, ivory black, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue)
·Cardboard panel (12x16 inches)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags