plate no. 1287

Portrait of a seated man

Richard Gerstl, 1908

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurechairmanindoorsuit

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing likeness, understanding color temperature variations within a limited palette, and practicing expressive brushwork to create texture and form.

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 figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of muted greens and browns.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure's suit and skin tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Develop the details of the chair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to define the form of the figure and chair.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, paying attention to the overall balance of the composition.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White

secondary · Burnt Umber · Cadmium Yellow · Alizarin Crimson

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, prussian blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve skin tones by blending titanium white, yellow ochre, and a small amount of alizarin crimson.

techniques

·Impasto
·Broken Color
·Scumbling
·Color Temperature
·Chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushwork.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the figure.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and color.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Yellow, Alizarin Crimson)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags