plate no. 1593

Portrait of Conté

pencilPointillismself-portraitportraitmanhatprofileclothingcane

some experience helpful

This painting allows students to practice pointillism techniques and understand how small dots of color create form and value. It also provides practice in portraiture and capturing likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic outline of the portrait, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the hat, coat, and facial features with dense clusters of dots.
step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones by spacing the dots further apart.
step 04
Use very sparse dots to create the lightest areas and highlights.
step 05
Pay close attention to the direction and density of the dots to suggest form and texture.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, hat, and clothing, adding more dots as needed.
step 07
Create a sense of depth by varying the density of the dots in the background.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance of light and dark, adjusting the dots as necessary.