plate no. 6521
Mihály Károlyi
Bertalan Por, 1930
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and conveying emotion through facial expression. It also provides practice in color mixing and creating depth with subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and the table.
- step 02
Establish the overall composition and placement of the subject.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the large shapes of the suit, face, and background.
- step 04
Begin to refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Develop the shadows and highlights to create form and depth.
- step 06
Add details to the suit and table, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 07
Refine the background, blending colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the darker tones in the suit and background. Use yellow ochre and titanium white for the lighter areas of the face and background. Add small amounts of cadmium red light to the lips and cheeks for warmth.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the face.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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