plate no. 8833

Man in red

Chronis Botsoglou, 1980

oilExpressionismportraitfigureportraitmanredtorsoprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice expressive brushwork and limited color palette techniques. It also encourages observation of subtle value changes in skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a canvas with a light pink underpainting.
step 02
Sketch the basic figure outline using a light color like diluted burnt sienna.
step 03
Block in the background with varying shades of red, creating subtle tonal shifts.
step 04
Start adding the figure's form using white mixed with small amounts of red and blue for cooler tones.
step 05
Use short, directional brushstrokes to define the contours and create texture.
step 06
Pay attention to the light and shadow on the figure to create depth.
step 07
Add details to the face and hands, keeping the brushwork loose and expressive.
step 08
Refine the edges and blend some areas to soften the overall effect.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of red, blue, and burnt sienna. Vary the proportions to create warm and cool tones. Use alizarin crimson to deepen the red in the background.

techniques