plate no. 0511

Schoolboy

Istvan Nagy, 1932

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureclothinghatschoolboyjacket

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering clothing folds. It also provides practice in blending colors to create subtle tonal variations.

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 figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and jacket.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hat, and jacket, using simplified shapes.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 05
Develop the folds and details of the jacket, using darker values to create depth.
step 06
Add the details of the hat, including the texture of the fur trim.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
step 08
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red

Mix burnt umber and white for skin tones, adding small amounts of red or yellow for warmth. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the background, adjusting the ratio for variations in tone.

techniques