plate no. 3291

Johann Georg Prillinger

Richard Gerstl, 1907

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitmanmustachefaceclothinghead

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to build form with visible brushstrokes and subtle color variations. It's a good exercise in portraiture and capturing likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and placement of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Establish the overall warm background tone with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and mustache.
step 04
Begin to build up the form of the face with short, directional brushstrokes, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the subject's likeness.
step 06
Add texture to the hair and clothing with varied brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final highlights and details.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending burnt sienna, raw umber, and titanium white. Use cadmium red to add warmth to the cheeks and lips. Create shadows by adding small amounts of ivory black to the skin tone mixture.

techniques

·broken color
·directional brushstrokes
·scumbling
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong, leading to an inaccurate likeness.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin.
→Using too much paint, obscuring the brushstrokes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (burnt sienna, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife