plate no. 3740

Model and painter with easel

Rafael Zabaleta, 1945

oil, canvasExpressionismgenre paintingfigureportraitartisteaselinteriorwindow

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, portraiture, and creating a sense of depth through layering and perspective. It also provides practice in capturing different textures and light qualities within an interior scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions and placement of figures and objects.
step 02
Block in the main color areas, starting with the background and larger shapes.
step 03
Develop the skin tones of the figures, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Add details to the artist's face and clothing, capturing the texture and folds.
step 05
Paint the easel and the painting within it, simplifying the details but maintaining the overall form.
step 06
Refine the background elements, such as the window, building, and curtains.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · ochre · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · cadmium red · viridian · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones using ochre, raw umber, cadmium red, and titanium white. Achieve the green hues by mixing Prussian blue and yellow ochre. Use ivory black sparingly to darken colors and create shadows.

techniques

·figure drawing
·portraiture
·layering
·scumbling
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using too much black and making the painting look muddy.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ochre, raw umber, titanium white, Prussian blue, cadmium red, viridian, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags