plate no. 5273

Maurice Drouard

Amedeo Modigliani, 1909

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitmanfigureclothingheadface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color temperature, and expressive brushwork. It provides practice in capturing likeness and mood through simplified forms and bold color choices.

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 head, shoulders, and hat.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of blue and green.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using yellow, orange, and brown.
step 04
Define the features (eyes, nose, mouth) with darker tones and more precise brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the dark clothing and hat, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 06
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Add final expressive brushstrokes to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix various shades of skin tones by combining yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, and white. Achieve the dark tones by mixing burnt umber with ultramarine blue.

techniques

·expressive brushwork
·color temperature
·portraiture
·blocking in
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→overworking the details
→inaccurate proportions
→muddying the colors
→ignoring the value structure

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green)
·palette
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits
·palette knife