plate no. 3724

El Borracho

Maria Blanchard, 1926

oilExpressionismportraitfigureportraittableinteriorglasspipe

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex shapes into geometric forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a rough sketch of the composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, table, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes with simplified color masses, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, mixing subtle variations of color for highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the clothing, focusing on the patterns and textures of the vest and shirt.
step 05
Paint the background elements, simplifying the forms and using a limited palette.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and expressive result.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create dark shadows. Add small amounts of ivory black to darken colors subtly.

techniques