plate no. 9034

Rauchender Schweizer

Max Pechstein, 1923

oilExpressionismportraitportraitmanpipemountainshatexpressionism

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing bold, expressive brushstrokes and understanding how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes. Students will learn to use a limited color palette effectively to create a striking image.

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, mountains, and background.
step 02
Block in the large areas of black, leaving the figure and mountain areas blank.
step 03
Paint the figure's skin with the yellow/ochre color, following the directional strokes of the original.
step 04
Add the brown color to the hat and pipe, focusing on the darker areas.
step 05
Paint the blue areas of the mountain and shirt, using bold strokes.
step 06
Outline the key features of the face and figure with black to define the forms.
step 07
Add the small details like the eyes and the pipe's mouthpiece.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and edges to match the original.

color palette

primary · black · ochre · brown · blue

secondary · white

Mix ochre with a touch of brown for the skin tones. Use white to lighten the blue for the mountain highlights.

techniques

·dry brush
·blocking
·directional strokes
·limited palette
·outlining

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, which will lose the expressive brushstrokes.
→Making the sketch too detailed, which will make it harder to simplify the forms.
→Using too many colors, which will muddy the image.
→Not paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes, which is key to the style.