plate no. 7987

Man Smoking

Lucian Freud, 1987

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitmanpipesmokingsuitfigure

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and conveying character through portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and pipe.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face and clothing, focusing on large shapes and values.
step 04
Begin to build up the skin tones using layers of broken color and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Pay close attention to the highlights and shadows on the face to create depth and form.
step 06
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the unique features of the subject.
step 07
Refine the clothing and pipe, adding texture and detail with small brushstrokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing cadmium red, yellow ochre, titanium white, and small amounts of raw umber. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cool shadows and adjust the temperature of the skin tones.

techniques