plate no. 1793

Man in a Chair

Lucian Freud, 1985

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanchairclothinginterior

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in depicting complex folds and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Establish the main light source and block in the large areas of shadow and light using thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Work on the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Define the features of the face, capturing the likeness and expression of the subject.
step 06
Add details to the chair and background, maintaining the overall tonal harmony.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, adjusting the values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre. Use ivory black to create shadows and deepen colors.

techniques

·alla prima
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value, leading to a lack of realism.
→Getting lost in the details too early, before establishing the overall tonal structure.
→Failing to capture the likeness and expression of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ivory black, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags