plate no. 3714
Man Reading in the Studio (Self Portrait)
Kmetty János, 1939
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing light and shadow with simplified forms. It's also a good exercise in creating a sense of depth with color and value.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and largest shapes.
- step 03
Define the figure's form with darker values and directional brushstrokes.
- step 04
Add details to the furniture and objects, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
- step 05
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Add the yellow hat and the painting in the background.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and add final touches.
- step 08
Sign the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · ivory black
Mix shades of blue and white for the walls. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the furniture. Mix black and blue for the suit. Add white to create highlights.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·directional brushstrokes
- ·color temperature
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Using too much detail and not enough simplification.
- →Not paying attention to the color temperature of the light.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Use odorless mineral spirits instead of turpentine for safety.
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