plate no. 3050

Man with the Yellow Hat

Ossip Zadkine, 1928

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigurehattablefoodwindowinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex forms and using expressive brushstrokes to define shapes and create texture. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing to achieve a slightly muted palette.

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 composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, table, and window.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then the figure's clothing and hat.
step 03
Mix the skin tones using a limited palette of white, brown, and blue, and apply them with visible brushstrokes.
step 04
Define the facial features with simple lines and shading, paying attention to the expressive quality of the eyes and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the table setting, including the fish, silverware, and glass, using a similar style of simplified forms and visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the background colors and add subtle variations to create depth and interest.
step 07
Outline key areas with a dark color to emphasize the shapes and create a sense of structure.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

Mix muted greens by combining viridian green with burnt umber or yellow ochre. Achieve the skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt umber and ultramarine blue.

techniques

·blocking in
·expressive brushstrokes
·limited palette
·simplified forms
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→over-blending colors
→getting bogged down in details
→not simplifying forms enough
→using too many colors

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·#8 flat brush
·#4 round brush
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Acrylic paints are a good option for beginners due to their fast drying time.

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