plate no. 9787

Young blond boy

Moise Kisling, 1937

oilPost-Impressionismportraitfigureportraitboysweaterhairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, torso, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of dark browns and grays, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, hair, and hands, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Start painting the striped sweater, carefully observing the color variations and the way the stripes curve around the body.
step 05
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Develop the highlights and shadows on the hands to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Add final details and adjust the overall color balance to achieve a cohesive look.
step 08
Varnish the painting when dry to protect the surface and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. The sweater stripes use variations of umber, blue, and ochre, lightened with white.

techniques