plate no. 5305

Waldemar Unger II

Richard Gerstl, 1903

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfaceeyes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown and gray.
step 03
Block in the main areas of skin tone using a base color of yellow ochre and white.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the face using burnt sienna, red, and white.
step 05
Paint the eyes, focusing on capturing the subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Define the clothing with black and white, paying attention to the folds and creases.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, such as the lips, nose, and ears.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white in varying proportions. Use red for the cheeks and lips, and blue for subtle shadows.

techniques