plate no. 5060
Walking Figure
Francis Bacon, 1960
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork, color mixing for skin tones, and creating a sense of depth and atmosphere with a limited palette. Students will also learn to capture a distorted figure with emotional impact.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the figure's pose and the doorway.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark green base, varying the tone slightly to create depth.
- step 03
Establish the figure's form with loose, gestural brushstrokes using a mix of blues, reds, and whites.
- step 04
Focus on capturing the distorted and expressive quality of the figure, rather than precise anatomical accuracy.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to the figure to define its form and create contrast.
- step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the expressive features.
- step 07
Add the dark floor and the line of the doorway.
- step 08
Adjust the overall composition and color balance to achieve the desired mood and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · viridian green · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light
Mix greens by combining viridian green with raw umber or ultramarine blue. Achieve skin tones by mixing alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, and titanium white, adjusting the proportions to create variations in color and value.
techniques
- ·expressive brushwork
- ·color blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing
- →Failing to capture the distorted and emotional impact of the figure
- →Not varying the green background enough, resulting in a flat image
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified color palette.
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