plate no. 7238

Stratis Doukas

Spyros Papaloukas, 1924

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanbedpillowface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice capturing likeness with simplified forms and using visible brushstrokes to create texture and depth. It will also improve understanding of color temperature and how to use it to model form.

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, pillow, and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color with thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Start building up layers of paint, using thicker brushstrokes to define the forms and create texture.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones, mixing colors on the palette as needed.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Refine the edges of the forms and adjust the values to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely and then apply a varnish if desired.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · raw sienna

Mix yellow ochre and white for the lighter skin tones, adding small amounts of red or umber to create variations. Use ultramarine blue and white for the cooler tones in the background and shadows.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·color temperature
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Not paying enough attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, cadmium red)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife