plate no. 5845

Rimbaud

Frank Auerbach, 1976

oil, woodExpressionismportraitportraitfigureinteriorarchitecturechairroom

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create form and depth. It also encourages simplification of complex subjects into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition using a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 02
Establish the main areas of color, focusing on the overall color harmony.
step 03
Build up layers of paint, using thick, expressive brushstrokes to define form and texture.
step 04
Pay attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and energy.
step 05
Mix colors directly on the canvas to achieve a spontaneous and painterly effect.
step 06
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall impact of the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · viridian green · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Achieve the greens by mixing viridian with yellow ochre or cadmium yellow. Use burnt umber and ultramarine to create dark browns and grays. Mix white with other colors to create lighter tints.

techniques

·impasto
·alla prima
·broken color
·expressive brushwork
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details too early.
→Not paying attention to the overall color harmony.
→Using too much medium, which can make the paint too slippery.
→Failing to simplify the subject into basic shapes and colors.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian green, titanium white, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow)
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags