plate no. 3319

Man Sitting - Back View

Wayne Thiebaud, 1964

oil, canvasNew Realismgenre paintingfigurechairback viewmansittingminimalist

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing, understanding light and shadow on simple forms, and creating a sense of depth with limited detail. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a subject with economy of means.

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 of the figure and chair, paying attention to proportions and placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the background, the shirt, the pants, and the chair.
step 03
Begin refining the colors in the shirt, mixing subtle variations of white and gray to capture the light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the colors in the pants, using muted tones and soft edges to suggest form.
step 05
Paint the chair, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow on the wooden structure.
step 06
Add the details of the shoes, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the shadows cast by the chair and figure, paying attention to their shape and intensity.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve the subtle grays and whites by mixing titanium white with small amounts of ivory black, raw umber, and ultramarine blue. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the shoes and chair, adjusting the tones with white and umber.

techniques