plate no. 7565

Charles Ephrussi

Leon Bonnat, 1906

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfiguremansuitbeardclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures of clothing and facial hair using visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and suit on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background color with broad strokes, focusing on the variations in tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the beard and hair, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the suit, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 07
Add the details of the bow tie and pocket square, using crisp, clean strokes.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding finishing touches.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones using white, raw sienna, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Achieve the background color by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·color mixing
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
→Not capturing the texture of the beard and hair.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife