plate no. 6045

Constant Lambert

Christopher Wood, 1926

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguremanchairbottleinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabric, and creating depth through layering and subtle value changes. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms using expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background objects using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes of paint, focusing on overall tones and values.
step 03
Develop the skin tones by layering different shades of pink, red, yellow, and brown.
step 04
Paint the suit and shirt, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and texture.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Define the background elements, including the bottle, chair, and artwork, with loose, expressive brushwork.
step 07
Refine the overall composition by adjusting values and adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final details and touches to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow, and a touch of blue or green. Achieve the suit color by mixing umber, sienna, and a touch of black or blue. Darken colors with burnt umber or black, and lighten with white.

techniques

·blocking in
·layering
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them properly.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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