plate no. 9031

William Butler Yeats

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait sketching, value shading, and creating a sense of depth with limited color palette. It also encourages expressive mark-making and capturing likeness through simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall proportions and pose of the figure.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow using charcoal or a soft pencil.
step 03
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral color, leaving some areas untouched for highlights.
step 04
Start building up the darker tones in the hair, clothing, and shadows on the face.
step 05
Add subtle color variations to the skin tones, focusing on the cheeks, nose, and ears.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add loose, expressive strokes to suggest texture and form in the clothing and hair.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

Mix ivory black and raw umber for the dark tones. Use titanium white to lighten the values. Add small amounts of burnt sienna and yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones.

techniques

·charcoal sketching
·value shading
·dry brush technique
·scumbling
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the original.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using too much color and creating a muddy effect.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the face.

materials

surface · toned paper

required

·charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
·kneaded eraser
·drawing paper or toned paper
·soft pastel sticks (earth tones)
·blending stumps or tortillions
·fixative spray
·palette
·palette knife

optional

·watercolor pencils
·colored pencils
·medium gloss

Using toned paper will help to establish the mid-tones and create a sense of depth more easily. Experiment with different types of paper to find one that suits your style.

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