plate no. 4409

Vittore Grubicy

oilSymbolismportraitportraitmanpipesmokechairtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and objects.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, loose strokes of warm browns and grays.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow on the face.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and accessories, such as the pipe and the chair.
step 06
Develop the smoke effect using light, wispy strokes of white and gray.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, adjusting the proportions to create variations in value and temperature. Use small amounts of ultramarine blue to cool down the skin tones in shadow areas.

techniques

·Underpainting
·Glazing
·Scumbling
·Dry brushing
·Limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags