plate no. 3891
Portrait of Jan Kasprowicz
Jacek Malczewski, 1903
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in portraiture, capturing likeness and expression, and in rendering textures like hair and fabric. Students will also develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective in the background landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the portrait and background.
- step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, focusing on subtle color variations.
- step 04
Define the features of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Work on the hair and beard, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Develop the details of the clothing, capturing the folds and highlights.
- step 07
Paint the background landscape, using lighter values and softer edges to create depth.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red light. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create neutral grays for shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness.
- →Failing to create depth in the background.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the face.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Palette knife
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Retouch varnish
- ·Medium (e.g., Liquin)
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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