plate no. 0634
Portrait of Andreas Vurlumis
George Mavroides, 1960
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing with a limited palette, and capturing likeness through expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages simplification of forms and focusing on essential details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Begin building up the darker areas of the clothing and background.
- step 04
Mix skin tones using a limited palette and apply them to the face and hands.
- step 05
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing and background, maintaining the loose, expressive style.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value contrast.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones using white, raw sienna, and small amounts of burnt umber and cadmium red. Vary the proportions to create different values and hues. Use burnt umber and white for the dark clothing, adding a touch of red for warmth.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Ignoring the overall value structure and creating a flat image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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