plate no. 0493

Senegal solgier

Marevna (Marie Vorobieff), 1936

oil, canvasPointillismportraitportraitfiguremilitary uniformhatmanpointillism

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop patience and precision in applying small dots of color to create form and depth. It also provides practice in color mixing and understanding how individual colors interact to create a cohesive image.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, hat, and uniform.
step 02
Divide the canvas into smaller sections to manage the complexity of the pointillist technique.
step 03
Start with the background, applying small dots of color, focusing on variations in hue and value.
step 04
Move to the figure, building up the skin tones with layers of dots in various shades of brown, red, and yellow.
step 05
Paint the uniform, using a similar pointillist approach with greens, yellows, and browns.
step 06
Add details like the buttons, collar, and hat, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend the colors by adding more dots where needed.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely and apply a varnish for protection.

color palette

primary · red · green · brown · yellow

secondary · white · blue · grey

Achieve skin tones by mixing red, yellow, and brown with small amounts of white and blue. Create variations in the uniform by mixing green with yellow and brown. Use white and blue to create the background.

techniques