plate no. 1062

The Musician

Chaim Soutine, 1927

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremusicianclothingbow tieseated

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing mood through color. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms and focusing on essential details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then the figure's clothing.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow patterns on the face and hands.
step 04
Begin adding details to the face, focusing on capturing the expression.
step 05
Refine the shapes and values of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and wrinkles.
step 06
Add the highlights and details to the bow tie and shirt.
step 07
Use expressive brushstrokes to create texture and movement throughout the painting.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired mood.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light

Mix various shades of blue and black for the background and clothing. Use white and yellow ochre to create the skin tones, adding small amounts of burnt sienna for warmth. Mix blue and white for the bow tie.

techniques