plate no. 2485

Musician Smoking a Cigarette in the Background of Copenhagen

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfigurecityscapeclothingviolincigarette

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as practicing atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and background.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create depth and form in the face and hands.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 06
Develop the background cityscape, using lighter values and softer edges to create distance.
step 07
Refine the details of the violin and cigarette.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism and mood.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create muted grays for the background.

techniques