plate no. 4925
Portrait of Pablo Picasso
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to break down complex forms into geometric shapes and practice color mixing to achieve subtle variations in skin tones and shadows. It also introduces the principles of cubism and portraiture.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, head, and sculpture, focusing on proportions and angles.
- step 02
Divide the background into geometric planes and lightly sketch these in.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas for the background, figure, and sculpture using diluted paint.
- step 04
Begin to build up layers of color, focusing on the light and shadow areas within each geometric plane.
- step 05
Mix and apply skin tones, paying attention to the subtle color variations in the face and hands.
- step 06
Refine the details of the sculpture, emphasizing the geometric forms and textures.
- step 07
Add the stripes to the shirt and refine the details of the jacket.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · payne's gray · cerulean blue
Mix various combinations of ultramarine blue, raw umber, and titanium white to achieve the different shades of blue in the background and jacket. Use burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and cadmium red light to create the skin tones, adding small amounts of blue or umber to create shadows.
techniques
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·color blocking
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the geometric shapes
- →Using colors that are too saturated
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones
- →Losing the overall structure of the composition
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting varnish
- ·rags
- ·turpentine or mineral spirits (for oil paints)
Using a medium-textured canvas will help to create a more interesting surface for the paint to adhere to. If using oil paints, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.
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