plate no. 0130

Portrait of Doctor Robert Le Masle

Marie Laurencin, 1949

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanfaceclothinghair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing likeness with simplified forms. It also encourages expressive brushwork and understanding of subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of green paint, varying the tone slightly.
step 03
Establish the main skin tone using a mix of white, pink, and a touch of blue/grey.
step 04
Define the shadows and highlights on the face, paying attention to the planes of the face.
step 05
Paint the hair using dark grey and black, with visible brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Add details to the eyes, lips, and clothing, using small brushes.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and adjust colors as needed.
step 08
Add the signature and date in a similar style to the original.

color palette

primary · titanium white · viridian green · ivory black · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white with small amounts of red, blue, and yellow. The background green is a mix of viridian green and white, with subtle variations achieved by adding small amounts of blue or yellow.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Using too much detail, losing the expressive quality of the original.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or acrylic medium
·mineral spirits or water for cleaning

optional

·easel
·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
·varnish

Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. If using acrylics, work quickly as they dry fast. If using oils, allow each layer to dry before applying the next.

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