plate no. 0738

Portrait of Edouard Vuillard

oil, panelImpressionismportraitportraitfigurebeardmanheadeyes closed

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and mood with a limited palette. It also provides practice in layering and blending oil paints to create subtle variations in skin tone and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the head and shoulders onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of burnt sienna and raw umber.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a mix of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white.
step 04
Develop the beard with short, broken strokes of burnt umber, raw umber, and a touch of black.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 06
Add details to the hair and clothing, using darker values to create depth.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors where necessary to create a cohesive image.
step 08
Add final highlights to the face and beard to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light

Mix yellow ochre and white for highlights on the face. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for shadows. Add a touch of cadmium red to the cheeks and nose for warmth.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·layering
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much detail and creating a stiff, unnatural look.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, raw umber, titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red light)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits