plate no. 5954

Joan Miro and his daughter Dolores

Balthus, 1937

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfiguresfatherdaughterclothingchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also offers practice in depicting fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background and figures using thin washes.
step 03
Begin to develop the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Refine the details of the clothing, including the stripes on the daughter's dress and the texture of the father's suit.
step 05
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Work on the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression of each figure.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast to create a cohesive and harmonious image.
step 08
Add final details and refine any areas that need further attention.

color palette

primary · gray · ochre · raw umber · white

secondary · red · black

Mix skin tones using ochre, raw umber, white, and a touch of red. Achieve the gray tones by mixing black and white, adjusting with small amounts of ochre or umber for warmth.

techniques