plate no. 2173

Portrait of Vincent van Gogh

pastel, cardboardPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguremaninteriortableglass

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with pastels to create depth and texture, as well as capturing a likeness through expressive mark-making.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure and the background elements.
step 02
Begin layering in the darkest values with dark blue and purple pastels, focusing on the background and shadows.
step 03
Add mid-tones using orange, yellow, and red pastels, building up the form of the figure and the table.
step 04
Introduce highlights with white and light yellow pastels, emphasizing the light on the face and hair.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the proportions and the expression.
step 06
Add texture by layering different colors and using short, broken strokes.
step 07
Blend the colors lightly with your fingers or a blending stump to create a softer effect.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · red · purple · white

Mix blues and reds for purples, yellows and reds for oranges, and use white to lighten values. Layer colors directly on the surface rather than pre-mixing.

techniques