plate no. 4389

The Man with the Monocle

Amedeo Modigliani, 1918

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitmanfigureclothingmonocle

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing a likeness with simplified forms. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and volume using subtle value changes.

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 head, shoulders, and facial features using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of muted blue-gray paint.
step 03
Establish the overall skin tone with a base layer of orange-red, paying attention to the areas of light and shadow.
step 04
Add darker values to the hair, suit, and tie, using a limited palette of black and brown.
step 05
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Blend the edges of the shapes to create a smooth transition between the different areas of the painting.
step 07
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Add the monocle as the final detail.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · cadmium red

Mix skin tones by blending burnt sienna, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create the muted blue-gray background. Darken colors with ivory black.

techniques

·color mixing
·blocking in
·blending
·scumbling
·simplified forms

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Using too many colors
→Failing to capture the likeness
→Not blending the edges of the shapes

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (burnt sienna, titanium white, ivory black, ultramarine blue, raw umber, cadmium red)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags