plate no. 2370

Portrait of Morgan Russell

Amedeo Modigliani, 1918

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanchairsuitneutral background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified form representation and color mixing for skin tones and fabric textures. It also encourages observation of subtle value changes to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: skin, suit, background, chair, and pants.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, focusing on subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the suit, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 05
Add texture to the background using dry brush techniques.
step 06
Refine the chair and pants, adding details and shadows.
step 07
Add final details to the face, including the suggestion of features.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones using burnt sienna, white, and a touch of red and yellow. Achieve the suit color by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, and a touch of black. The background is a mix of white, blue, and umber.

techniques