plate no. 8646

Portrait of Brother Ettore

Mario Sironi, 1910

oilDivisionismportraitportraitfigureboyshadowwallclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow on a figure and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing subtle color variations to represent 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 background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint, focusing on the planes of the face and body.
step 04
Use short, directional brushstrokes to define the form and create texture.
step 05
Mix subtle color variations to represent the nuances of light and shadow.
step 06
Pay close attention to the edges of the figure, softening some and defining others.
step 07
Add details to the face and clothing, such as the eyes, mouth, and folds in the fabric.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust the values as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · titanium white · ivory black

Mix blues and browns to create the various shades of the clothing. Use yellow ochre and white for the background, adding small amounts of blue and brown to create subtle variations. Mix burnt sienna and white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of blue for shadows.

techniques