plate no. 1845
Portrait of Brancusi
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying forms and using a limited palette to create a cohesive and expressive portrait. It also provides an opportunity to experiment with loose brushwork and subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, beard, and shoulders.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of light beige/cream color.
- step 03
Establish the dark areas of the hair, eyes, and beard with a dark blue/brown mixture.
- step 04
Add the mid-tones to the face and clothing, blending the edges slightly.
- step 05
Introduce lighter values to the face and clothing to create form.
- step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the features, paying attention to the overall simplification.
- step 07
Add subtle color variations to the beard and face.
- step 08
Add the signature in the bottom left corner.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre
Mix white with small amounts of burnt umber and yellow ochre to create the skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to achieve the darker tones for the hair and beard. Add white to these mixtures to create lighter values.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·simplification
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplified, expressive quality.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy or disharmonious palette.
- →Making the values too uniform and failing to create a sense of form.
- →Not capturing the likeness or character of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·easel
A slightly textured canvas will enhance the dry brush effect. Consider using a toned canvas to start.
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