plate no. 6314

Portrait of Edmond Maitre

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremancigarclothingtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also offers practice in depicting fabric and subtle light variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the dark background and general skin tones with thin washes.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the suit, chair, and table.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the collar, tie, and buttons.
step 06
Develop the texture of the hair and beard using small brushstrokes.
step 07
Paint the cigar and the book on the table.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix ivory black and burnt umber for the dark background and suit. Use raw sienna and white for the skin tones, adding touches of alizarin crimson for warmth. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the dark areas of the suit.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong
→Overworking the details too early
→Using colors that are too saturated
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (ivory black, burnt umber, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, titanium white)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife