plate no. 7584

Portrait of the Poet Abraham Sutzkever

Alexander Bogen, 1988

oilExpressionismportraitportraitmanhatscarfglassesclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabric, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a sense of personality.

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, hat, and scarf using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt sienna and raw umber.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hat, clothing, and scarf, focusing on the overall tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and values in the face, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details in the clothing and scarf, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Add the details of the glasses and other small features.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones using burnt sienna, raw umber, yellow ochre, and white. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the cool tones in the clothing. Mix alizarin crimson with raw umber and white for the scarf.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the face and figure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints: burnt sienna, raw umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags