plate no. 1427
Young man
Christo Coetzee, 1951
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good opportunity to practice capturing light and shadow with expressive brushstrokes. Students can learn to simplify forms and focus on conveying the overall impression rather than precise details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and table.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Start adding darker values to define shadows and create depth.
- step 04
Introduce lighter values to highlight areas catching the light.
- step 05
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
- step 06
Add details to the shirt and table, using expressive brushstrokes.
- step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a cohesive composition.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue
Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and black to create the various gray tones. Use yellow ochre and sap green to create the greenish hues in the shirt and table. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue to darken the shadows.
techniques
- ·expressive brushstrokes
- ·value studies
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Getting bogged down in precise rendering
- →Ignoring the overall value structure
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing
- →Not simplifying forms enough
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·apron
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified color scheme.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Dolly Sisters
Kees van Dongen
Nude with Loaves
Jean Helion
My Father
Carlos Botelho
Helen
Chronis Botsoglou
The portrait painter in the country
Albin Egger-Lienz
Marketta on Lázeňská street, Prague
Maria Bozoky
Winter at the Entrepotdok, in Amsterdam city
Paul Werner
Old Woman with Masks (Theatre of Masks)
James Ensor