plate no. 9587

Portrait of Leon Golub

Enrique Martínez Celaya, 2004

oil, tar, canvasContemporary Realismportraitportraitfiguremandarksomber

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to build form with subtle value changes and how to create a mood through a limited color palette. It also offers practice in portraiture and capturing likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a dark neutral color.
step 02
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and placement of the figure.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas of the face and background using thinned dark paint.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones, focusing on the planes of the face.
step 05
Add highlights sparingly to define the form and create contrast.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add subtle color variations to create depth and interest.
step 08
Consider adding the text at the top with a fine brush.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre

Achieve the dark tones by mixing ivory black with raw umber and burnt umber. Use titanium white sparingly to create highlights and subtle value shifts. Yellow ochre can be added in small amounts to warm up the skin tones.

techniques