plate no. 9951
Portrait of Monsieur Mori
Suzanne Valadon, 1922
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing and applying a limited color palette to create depth and dimension.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background elements.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the darkest values.
- step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones and highlights, paying attention to the direction of light.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
- step 05
Add details such as the clothing, chair, and background objects.
- step 06
Use short, visible brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
- step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to achieve a harmonious composition.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · black · white · red · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue
Mix blacks and browns with blues and reds to avoid a flat, chalky appearance. Use white sparingly to create highlights and subtle variations in tone.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Using too much white, which can flatten the forms.
- →Ignoring the direction of light, leading to a lack of depth and dimension.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (black, white, red, yellow ochre, burnt umber, ultramarine blue)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting apron
Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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