plate no. 9506

Study for a Portrait with Bird in Flight

Francis Bacon, 1980

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigurebirdinteriorportraitgeometric shapes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing distorted figures. Focus on layering colors and creating a sense of movement and unease.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes and the figure's pose.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, floor, and figure.
step 03
Begin to define the figure's form with darker values, paying attention to the distorted anatomy.
step 04
Add details to the face and clothing, using short, expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the bird, focusing on capturing its dynamic pose and the texture of its feathers.
step 06
Refine the background and geometric shapes, adding subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, ensuring a sense of balance and tension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · yellow ochre

Mix raw umber and ultramarine blue for the dark shadows. Use cadmium red and titanium white for the skin tones. Mix viridian green with yellow ochre for the green floor.

techniques