plate no. 3002

Dog

Francis Bacon, 1952

oilExpressionismanimal paintingdoganimalfloorgridshadowdark sky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified form representation and expressive brushwork. It will also improve their understanding of color temperature and value relationships in creating shadows.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the dog and the grid.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the dark sky, the light floor, and the red grid.
step 03
Begin to define the shape of the dog with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 04
Add shadows to the floor and the dog, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Refine the details of the grid and the dog's form, but maintain a sense of looseness.
step 06
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to match the original painting.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the dog to create a sense of movement and energy.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix the dark sky by combining ultramarine blue and ivory black. Create the floor color by mixing raw umber and titanium white. Use cadmium red straight from the tube for the grid.

techniques

·dry brush
·scumbling
·limited palette
·expressive brushwork
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Making the colors too saturated and not matching the muted tones of the original.
→Failing to capture the dynamic pose and energy of the dog.
→Not paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value within each area.