plate no. 9851

Portrait of Gustave Candel's Mother

Marcel Duchamp, 1912

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfigurebustbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and creating subtle tonal variations in skin tones, as well as understanding the effects of light and shadow on form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the bust, head, and background, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the background using a thin wash of yellow ochre and burnt sienna.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the bust with a mix of black and burnt umber, focusing on the shadows.
step 04
Begin layering in the skin tones, using a mix of white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 06
Add details to the collar and the stand, using darker values to create depth.
step 07
Blend the edges of the forms to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the portrait.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · black · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red

Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black to create the dark tones of the bust and stand. Add white to these dark tones to create lighter shades.

techniques