plate no. 1408

THE EMBALMER

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanpurpletorsoexpressionism

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing a likeness with a limited color palette. It also encourages experimentation with texture and implied form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure and background with light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the purple background, the green frame, and the general skin tones.
step 03
Start building up the figure with thick, expressive brushstrokes, focusing on the planes of the face and body.
step 04
Mix variations of the skin tones by adding small amounts of purple, green, and white to create subtle shifts in color.
step 05
Define the facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) with thicker paint and bolder strokes.
step 06
Add the darker shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the edges of the figure and the background, allowing some areas to blend and others to remain distinct.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the portrait to life.

color palette

primary · purple · titanium white · green

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of purple by combining a cool red and a blue. Create skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of purple and green. Use raw umber and ultramarine to create darks.

techniques

·impasto
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·expressive brushwork
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture and interest.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (purple, titanium white, green, yellow ochre, raw umber, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits