plate no. 5052

Sailor without shoes sitting on couch

Yiannis Tsaroychis, 1962

oilExpressionismportraitfigurecouchchairportraitinteriorclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and depicting fabric folds, as well as practice creating depth and texture using visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure, couch, and other objects.
step 02
Block in the background color with a thin wash of pink.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the figure's skin and clothing, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Begin to define the details of the couch and chair, paying attention to the pattern and texture.
step 05
Add details to the face, capturing the likeness and expression of the sailor.
step 06
Refine the folds and shadows in the clothing to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Add the details of the hat and framed pictures.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to create a cohesive and expressive painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian

Mix pinks by combining white with cadmium red light. Use raw umber and white for the couch and chair, adding touches of yellow ochre and red for the floral pattern. Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
→Not capturing the likeness of the sailor.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or acrylic medium
·mineral spirits or water (for cleaning)

optional

·easel
·painting medium
·varnish

Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Oil paints will provide richer colors and blending capabilities, but acrylics are easier to clean up and dry faster.

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