plate no. 4729
John
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of white and yellow.
- step 03
Establish the main color areas for the figure: skin tones, hair, clothes, and pants.
- step 04
Develop the details of the face, focusing on simple shapes for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Add the blue vest and striped shirt, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Paint the pants with a mix of red and purple, varying the color slightly to suggest form.
- step 07
Refine the details of the chair and walking stick.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt umber · viridian green
Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber for skin tones. Create the pants color by mixing red and blue with a touch of white. Use white to lighten and mute other colors.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·expressive brushstrokes
- ·color mixing
- ·simplifying forms
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the style.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Not capturing the proportions of the figure correctly.
- →Being too precise with the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·apron
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for this project. Acrylics are a good option for beginners due to their fast drying time.
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