plate no. 3553

Taffy Roberts

John Bratby, 1952

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigureartistpaintinginteriorcigarette

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing a likeness with loose, gestural strokes. It also emphasizes understanding value relationships and color temperature to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and the surrounding objects using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the large areas of color with thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint, focusing on the dark values and shadows.
step 04
Use thick, expressive brushstrokes to define the forms and create texture.
step 05
Pay attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to convey the form of the figure and objects.
step 06
Introduce highlights and lighter values to create contrast and depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the face and hands, using smaller brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · sap green · ivory black

secondary · cadmium yellow · titanium white · red oxide

Mix various shades of brown and green by blending burnt umber, raw sienna, and sap green. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of red oxide to warm up the browns.

techniques

·impasto
·dry brushing
·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the direction of the brushstrokes and creating a flat, lifeless surface.
→Getting bogged down in details too early in the process.