plate no. 9091

Portrait de Georges Limbour

Jean Dubuffet, 1920

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingsfigurestreestreetarchitecturevillage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and practice creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in limited palette color mixing and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, tree, and figures, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the street.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the buildings, the tree, and the ground.
step 04
Start with the darkest values and gradually add lighter tones, paying attention to the light source.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and doors, using a smaller brush.
step 06
Define the figures with simple shapes and colors, capturing their gestures and poses.
step 07
Create texture in the tree and the ground with visible brushstrokes.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Mix raw umber and white for the buildings and street. Use sap green and raw umber for the tree, adjusting the ratio for highlights and shadows. Add a touch of yellow ochre to warm up the colors.

techniques

·blocking in
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the light source and creating flat, unconvincing forms.
→Not simplifying the figures enough, making them too detailed and distracting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints: raw umber, titanium white, sap green, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black
·Round brushes (#2, #6)
·Flat brush (#8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags