plate no. 8322

Young Man with a Goatee

Natalia Goncharova, 1907

oil, canvasFauvismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingheadgoatee

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture using simplified forms and bold brushstrokes. It also encourages experimentation with color to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin tones, clothing.
step 03
Start defining the facial features, paying attention to the planes of the face.
step 04
Add layers of color to build depth and dimension in the skin tones and clothing.
step 05
Refine the details of the face and hands, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Use bold brushstrokes to create texture and movement in the painting.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create contrast.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, red, and yellow ochre, adding small amounts of blue or umber to create shadows. Darken colors with burnt umber or black, and lighten with white.

techniques

·blocking in
·broken color
·scumbling
·impasto
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy effect.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Not using enough contrast between light and shadow.
→Being too timid with the brushstrokes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, ivory black)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags