plate no. 5204

Potrait of a Man

oilExpressionismportraitportraitmanfigureclothinghead

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing likeness through expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages observation of subtle value changes to create form.

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 and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of browns and reds.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, clothing, and head covering, focusing on overall value.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and collar, using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face to capture the likeness.
step 08
Step back and make any necessary adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use white to lighten these mixtures for highlights, and black or blue to darken them for shadows. The skin tones are achieved by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and white, with small amounts of umber for shadows.

techniques

·blocking in
·blending
·scumbling
·dry brushing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using too much paint and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Not capturing the correct proportions of the face.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, titanium white, ivory black, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife