plate no. 9896

PasoliniPortrait of Pier Paolo Pasolini

Zani Corrado, 2018

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanfacehairhand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, hand, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the main color areas of the skin, hair, and clothing, focusing on the overall color relationships.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details and highlights to the hair, creating texture and dimension with visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the shadows and mid-tones in the face and clothing, using a variety of color mixtures.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the portrait without distracting from it.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white in varying proportions. Add small amounts of cadmium yellow for warmth and ultramarine blue for cool shadows.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags

optional

·medium gloss
·painting easel
·mahl stick

Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for this project. A variety of brushes, including flats and rounds, will be helpful for creating different textures and details.

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