plate no. 7461
Etude
Jean Helion, 1939
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes and understanding how to use a limited palette to create depth and form. It also encourages the use of bold outlines to define shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and clothing, focusing on proportions and angles.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color.
- step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Define the features of the face (eyes, nose, mouth) with darker values and clean lines.
- step 05
Paint the hat using geometric shapes and contrasting colors.
- step 06
Add the details of the clothing, such as the collar and tie.
- step 07
Refine the outlines and edges of the shapes to create a sense of definition.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by blending raw umber, titanium white, and a touch of cadmium red. Create darker values by adding ivory black to the primary colors.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·outlining
- ·geometric abstraction
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a loss of definition.
- →Failing to simplify the forms into basic shapes.
- →Using too many colors, which can make the painting look muddy.
- →Neglecting the importance of clean outlines.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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