plate no. 6463

Les masques

Jean Paul Lemieux, 1973

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresmasksclothinghatsgroupportraits

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify figures into basic shapes and use a limited color palette to create a cohesive and slightly surreal atmosphere. Students will also learn to create subtle variations in tone to suggest form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the background with a light, neutral color, creating a slightly textured surface.
step 03
Paint the basic shapes of the clothing with white, adding subtle variations in tone to suggest form and folds.
step 04
Mix skin tones using a limited palette of browns, yellows, and reds, and apply them to the faces and hands.
step 05
Paint the masks and hats, paying attention to their shapes and colors.
step 06
Add details to the faces and clothing, such as eyes, noses, and folds.
step 07
Refine the edges of the figures and blend the colors to create a soft, dreamlike effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and ivory black to create the various shades of white in the clothing and background. Use yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and cadmium red light to create the skin tones, adjusting the proportions to achieve the desired color.

techniques

·blocking
·scumbling
·glazing
·limited palette
·tonal variation

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplified, stylized look.
→Using too many colors and creating a disjointed effect.
→Failing to create subtle variations in tone, resulting in a flat, lifeless painting.
→Not paying attention to the relative sizes and positions of the figures, resulting in a distorted composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic gesso
·titanium white acrylic paint
·raw umber acrylic paint
·ivory black acrylic paint
·yellow ochre acrylic paint
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)

optional

·palette knife
·retarder medium
·varnish

A slightly textured canvas will help to create the desired effect. Consider using a retarder medium to slow down the drying time of the acrylics, allowing for more blending.

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