plate no. 0287

Athlete

Yiannis Tsaroychis, 1967

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremaleleavestorsohead

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in capturing a likeness with simplified forms and limited color palette, while also developing skills in depicting light and shadow on skin tones. Recreating this will help students understand how to use visible brushstrokes to create texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and the laurel wreath.
step 02
Block in the background with a mid-tone grey, using loose, visible brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the skin using a mix of browns and ochres.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone and the placement of shadows.
step 05
Paint the laurel wreath, using different shades of green to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add highlights to the face, shoulders, and leaves to enhance the sense of light.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a harmonious and unified composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · sap green · payne's gray

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna for the skin tones, adding white for highlights and payne's gray for shadows. Use sap green straight from the tube or mix it with a touch of burnt umber for darker greens.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·limited palette
·alla prima
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch
→Using too much paint and losing the loose, expressive quality
→Not paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·burnt umber oil paint
·raw sienna oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·sap green oil paint
·payne's gray oil paint
·#4 round brush
·#8 flat brush

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., a light grey or ochre) to create a more unified background.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein