plate no. 1270
Portrait of a Man
Juan Gris, 1923
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand geometric abstraction and how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in color blocking and creating depth with value changes within a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes of the figure, chair, and background.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, background curtains, and chair.
- step 03
Refine the shapes and edges of the figure, paying attention to the planes of the face and body.
- step 04
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension within each color block.
- step 05
Define the details of the book and the small details of the chair.
- step 06
Blend edges slightly to soften the transitions between color blocks.
- step 07
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
- step 08
Consider adding a thin glaze of color to unify the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · burnt umber · gray
Mix various shades of gray by combining black and white. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the skin tones, adjusting with white for highlights and black for shadows. Mix ultramarine blue with white to create the curtain color, adding a touch of black for darker areas.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·value shading
- ·limited palette
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the color blocks, losing the geometric structure.
- →Not simplifying the forms enough, resulting in a cluttered composition.
- →Using too many colors, making the painting look muddy.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes within each color block.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·yellow ochre paint
- ·ultramarine blue paint
- ·ivory black paint
- ·titanium white paint
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (for oils)
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylics are recommended for beginners due to their faster drying time.
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