plate no. 1370

Study for Figure II

Francis Bacon, 1955

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigureportraitsuitchairdark backgroundabstract

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork, capturing movement and emotion, and creating depth with limited color palettes. It also encourages experimentation with abstracting the human form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition with light pencil lines, focusing on the figure's pose and the chair's structure.
step 02
Block in the dark background with a thin layer of black or dark brown paint.
step 03
Apply a base layer of yellow ochre or raw sienna to the chair and surrounding areas.
step 04
Begin building up the figure's form with loose, gestural brushstrokes using a mix of blues, browns, and whites.
step 05
Define the suit with darker greens and browns, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 06
Add highlights to the figure and chair with lighter yellows and whites, creating a sense of depth.
step 07
Use dry brush techniques to create texture and add detail to the figure's face and clothing.
step 08
Refine the composition by adjusting values and adding final touches of color.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · ivory black · ultramarine blue

secondary · titanium white · burnt sienna · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white or black to adjust the value. The figure's skin tone is created by layering blues, browns, and whites.

techniques