plate no. 2078

Portrait of Eduardo De Filippo

Zani Corrado, 2018

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanfaceprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using expressive brushstrokes to define form. It also provides practice in simplifying a complex subject into basic shapes and values.

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 and proportions of the head and facial features.
step 02
Block in the background with dark blues and blacks, establishing the overall value range.
step 03
Apply a base layer of light, greenish-white to the face, leaving areas for shadows.
step 04
Begin adding darker values to define the shadows and contours of the face, using a mix of browns, greens, and blues.
step 05
Use short, directional brushstrokes to build up the form and texture of the skin.
step 06
Add highlights with pure white or light yellow, focusing on areas where light hits the face.
step 07
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to their shape and placement.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · yellow ochre

Mix white with small amounts of green and umber to create the skin tones. Use ultramarine and black for the darkest shadows. Mix white with yellow ochre for highlights.

techniques