plate no. 2624

Graham Vivian Sutherland

Graham Sutherland, 1977

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremannewspapergreen backgroundsmoking

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing likeness through expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages observation of subtle value changes within a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, hands, and newspaper.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of varying shades of green.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Add details to the hands and newspaper, suggesting texture and form.
step 06
Define the clothing and add the cigarette.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · viridian green · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the skin tones by mixing raw umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Vary the proportions to create different shades and highlights. The greens are achieved by mixing viridian green with white and small amounts of yellow ochre or raw umber.

techniques