plate no. 0928

Head of a Youth

Yiannis Tsaroychis, 1941

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigureheadyouthshirthair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating subtle variations in value to define form. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a sense of personality.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of skin tone with a mid-value mixture.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to sculpt the face and create depth.
step 06
Paint the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Add details to the shirt and suspenders, keeping the edges soft.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white in varying proportions. Add small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and ivory black for shadows.

techniques