plate no. 7395

Emile Bernard

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin, hair, and clothing.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of ochre, red, and white.
step 04
Add darker values to define the shadows and contours of the face and clothing.
step 05
Work on the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest texture and volume.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Add highlights to the face and hair to create a sense of light and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, raw umber, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Use Prussian blue and raw umber for the dark clothing and background, adding white to lighten the background.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brush
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions and features of the face.
→Using too much black, which can make the painting look muddy.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, Prussian blue, cadmium red light, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags