plate no. 2354

Stephane Mallarme

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanbookchairinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing likeness with loose brushwork and understanding how to suggest form with subtle value changes. It also offers practice in painting skin tones and rendering textures with expressive strokes.

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, chair, and book.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and ochre.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the dark coat, the lighter chair, and the skin tones.
step 04
Begin adding details to the face, focusing on capturing the likeness with broad strokes.
step 05
Develop the folds and shadows in the coat and chair, using darker values.
step 06
Add highlights to the face, hands, and book to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the background details and add subtle variations in color.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the dark coat color by mixing black with a hint of blue and umber. The background is primarily a mix of burnt umber and yellow ochre, lightened with white.

techniques