plate no. 8836
Thinking
Ipolit Strambu, 1917
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and mood with limited color palette, and understanding how to use value to create form and depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the pink of the blouse, the grey of the skirt, and the reddish-brown of the chair.
- step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
- step 06
Develop the folds and shadows in the clothing to create a sense of volume.
- step 07
Add highlights to the hair, face, and clothing to create a sense of light.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Mix pinks by adding red to white, and greys by mixing brown and blue with white. Use yellow ochre to warm up skin tones and add highlights.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·limited palette
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Making the skin tones too uniform and flat.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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