plate no. 9034

Diego in a Plaid Shirt

Alberto Giacometti, 1954

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanchairindoorclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive line work, capturing a likeness with minimal detail, and creating a sense of depth through layering and value contrast. It also encourages experimentation with loose, gestural brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the figure's proportions and placement within the frame.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, loose washes of ochre and brown, leaving some areas untouched for highlights.
step 03
Define the figure's form using a limited palette of browns, grays, and blacks, applying paint in short, energetic strokes.
step 04
Add touches of red to the shirt to create a focal point and add visual interest.
step 05
Use thin, dark lines to accentuate the figure's contours and add detail to the face and clothing.
step 06
Build up layers of paint, allowing some of the underpainting to show through to create texture and depth.
step 07
Refine the composition by adjusting values and adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the overall balance of the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and white. Use small amounts of black to darken the values. Achieve the red in the shirt by diluting the cadmium red with a bit of medium.

techniques

·expressive linework
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·layering
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the spontaneity of the original.
→Getting bogged down in details and neglecting the overall composition.
→Using too much color and creating a muddy effect.
→Not capturing the likeness of the figure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·raw umber oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·cadmium red oil paint
·ivory black oil paint
·#4 round brush
·#8 filbert brush

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the texture of the brushstrokes. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time of the oil paint.

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