plate no. 9141

Seated Man in Yellow Overalls

Lois Mailou Jones, 1939

oilImpressionismportraitfigureportraitmanoverallshatrope

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and the various shades of yellow and green. Students can also develop their skills in capturing the texture of clothing 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 basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the background, overalls, shirt, and skin.
step 03
Begin layering in darker values to define shadows and form.
step 04
Mix and apply the various shades of yellow and green for the overalls, paying attention to subtle color variations.
step 05
Develop the skin tones using a limited palette of reds, yellows, and browns.
step 06
Add details to the face and hands, focusing on capturing the expression and gesture.
step 07
Refine the background and add details to the rope and other elements.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · viridian green · titanium white

Mix greens by combining ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow. Achieve skin tones by blending burnt umber, cadmium yellow, and titanium white, adding small amounts of red for warmth.

techniques