plate no. 7917

Francisco d'Andrade, Reading a Newspaper

Max Slevogt, 1903

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfigurenewspapermanbeardsuit

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, capturing likeness with minimal detail, and mixing skin tones with subtle variations. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and newspaper.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, hair, suit, background, and newspaper, using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up the values and details in the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add more detail to the hair and beard, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Define the suit and tie with darker values and sharper edges.
step 06
Refine the background with loose, gestural brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the newspaper and other areas to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark tones of the suit. Add white to these mixtures to create lighter shades for the background.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Getting the proportions wrong and distorting the likeness.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the light and shadow.