plate no. 5434

Sophia

George Mavroides, 1968

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurehairfacehandperson

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and expression using simplified forms and visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and understanding light and shadow on a face.

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 of the head, hair, and hand, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the background, hair, skin, and clothing using thin washes.
step 03
Begin to define the facial features, focusing on the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and volume in the face and hair.
step 05
Refine the details of the hand and clothing, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the eyes and other key areas.
step 08
Let dry and varnish if desired.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. Use blue to cool down the skin tones in shadow areas. Darken hair with raw umber and a touch of blue.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brush texture
·color mixing
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions wrong and distorting the likeness.
→Using colors that are too saturated and creating a garish effect.
→Not paying attention to the light and shadow and creating a flat, lifeless portrait.