plate no. 0781
Portait of John Polemis
Paul Mathiopoulos, 1924
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle tonal variations. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background tone with a mid-value brown.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the angles and contours of the face and body.
- step 04
Start building up the values on the face, using lighter tones for highlights and darker tones for shadows.
- step 05
Develop the details of the suit, including the folds and creases in the fabric.
- step 06
Add the details of the plant and pot in the background.
- step 07
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Mix raw umber and white for the skin tones, adjusting the ratio for highlights and shadows. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the suit, adding white to lighten the color.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·hatching
- ·scumbling
- ·value study
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details before establishing the overall values.
- →Using too much white, which can make the painting look chalky.
- →Not paying enough attention to the subtle tonal variations in the face.
materials
surface · toned paper
required
- ·toned paper
- ·charcoal pencils
- ·white chalk
- ·brown pastel pencils
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·blending stumps
- ·fixative spray
optional
- ·ruler
- ·grid
- ·pastel pencils
Use a toned paper that is slightly darker than the mid-value in the painting. This will allow you to create both highlights and shadows.
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