plate no. 6436

Circus

Antonio Donghi, 1927

oilMagic Realismgenre paintingfiguresclowntuxedocurtainportraitformal wear

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations to create form. It also offers practice in rendering different textures, such as fabric and skin.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, background curtain, and floor.
step 03
Begin layering in values, starting with the darkest areas and gradually working towards the highlights.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle shifts in value within the faces to create realistic form.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, including the folds and wrinkles.
step 06
Add the highlights and shadows to the background curtain to create depth.
step 07
Carefully blend the edges of the forms to create a smooth, polished finish.
step 08
Add final details, such as the facial features and the texture of the clothing.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · purple

Skin tones are achieved by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. The purple is a mix of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue. The background is a muted blue, achieved by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of raw umber to dull the color.

techniques