Portrait of a Child by Lajos Tihanyi

plate no. 3062

Portrait of a Child

oilExpressionismportraitportraitchildchairfigureindoorclothing

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, chair, and background using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: background, chair, skin, and clothing.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones by layering different shades of pink, yellow, and brown.
step 04
Add details to the face, paying attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Define the contours of the figure and chair with darker values.
step 06
Add highlights to create a sense of form and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing and hair.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · sap green

Mix various shades of pink for the skin and clothing by combining white, red, and a touch of yellow. Use blue and green to create the background, adjusting the proportions to achieve the desired hue.

techniques

·color mixing
·layering
·blending
·simplified forms
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Getting the proportions wrong
→Using colors that are too saturated
→Ignoring the value structure

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes
·flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·painting rags

Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for this project. Acrylic paints are recommended for beginners due to their faster drying time.

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