plate no. 7692

Man Laughing (Tom Morris)

Samuel Peploe, 1902

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitmanfigureclothingfacehead

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and expression using simplified forms and bold brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and creating depth with value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of browns, reds, and whites.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the angles and planes of the face.
step 05
Add highlights to the forehead, nose, and cheeks to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Paint the clothing with broad, expressive brushstrokes, using darker tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights.
step 07
Refine the details of the eyes, mouth, and hair, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use ivory black to darken shadows and yellow ochre to add warmth to highlights.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brush
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions and angles of the face.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat, lifeless portrait.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ivory black, yellow ochre)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits