plate no. 6709

Portrait of Maurice Utrillo

Suzanne Valadon, 1921

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguremanpaletteinteriorclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing likeness with expressive brushstrokes. It also offers practice in depicting textures and creating depth through color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of color, blocking in the larger shapes.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to the placement of eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing and palette, adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Work on the background elements, creating depth and atmosphere.
step 06
Refine the brushwork, adding texture and visual interest.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · olive green · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix greens by combining yellows and blues with umber. Achieve skin tones by mixing reds, yellows, and browns with white. Use black sparingly to darken colors.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (olive green, burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ivory black, yellow ochre)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags