plate no. 3780

Portrait of Rabindranath Tagore

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguretreesfoliagebookbirds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through layering and subtle value changes. It also provides an opportunity to study the use of line and wash techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted brown or ochre to the skin areas, establishing the base tone.
step 03
Build up the skin tones with layers of slightly darker and lighter washes, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the clothing with a similar layering technique, using a mix of browns and grays.
step 05
Add the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using a fine brush.
step 06
Paint the background foliage with a variety of greens, blues, and browns, using loose brushstrokes.
step 07
Add the details of the chair and the book, using a fine brush.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches.