Exploring John Singer Sargent's Technique: My first experimentation with Watercolor, Gouache AND Oil Pastel
The Five-Star Nomad: Who Was John Singer Sargent?
Before diving into technique, let's talk about the artist himself. John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was what I like to call a "five-star nomad." Born to American parents in Florence, Italy, he spent his life traveling across Europe and America, absorbing artistic influences wherever he went. Despite his American citizenship, he was thoroughly European in his education and early career, training in Paris under Carolus-Duran and developing his signature style through exposure to various artistic traditions.
Sargent's life was marked by both triumph and controversy. His notorious portrait of "Madame X" scandalized Paris society, leading him to relocate to London, where he rebuilt his career to become one of the most sought-after portrait painters of his era. His ability to capture both likeness and character, combined with his pianist like brushworks (apparently he was a great pianist), made him the go-to artist for society portraits on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Paintings That Captivate Me
Several of Sargent's works have particularly influenced my approach:
Dr. Pozzi at Home: The commanding use of red and the expressive hands tell as much about the subject as his face does
Madame X: The interplay of dark and light, with only 30% of the canvas dedicated to illuminated skin tones, plus those brilliant gold accents
Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose: His masterful capture of dusk light and the rhythmic placement of floating flowers
Lady Agnew: The perfect balance between loose brushwork and sharp detail, combined with his innovative color choices
My Journey in Sargent's Footsteps
The Studies Process
Through multiple studies, I discovered:
Study #1: Pure watercolor, while beautiful, lacks the thickness needed for Sargent-like effects
Study #2:
A combination of Vandyke brown watercolor and ultramarine blue gouache created effective backgrounds
Gouache dried too quickly; watercolor medium might help maintain wetness for my next project ;)
Getting too detailed too early was a mistake
Flat nore round brushes didn't quite capture his characteristic strokes…Filbert brushes did the job although I don’t have such for watercolor nor gouache medium…
Study #3: Oil pastels seemed good for this study, especially when hand-blended, though safflower oil made the marks too thin, almost like a wash in watercolor, turpentine thined down paint in oil.
The Final Piece
For my final portrait, I used AI and Photoshop to generate a reference of Sargent himself in red with gold cuffs, inspired by his Dr. Pozzi portrait. This modern approach to reference creation allowed me to focus on technique while maintaining the spirit of his work.
Key Technical Insights
What makes a painting "Sargent-like"? Here's what I learned:
Start with thin warm washes
Place values where they meet
Work wet-in-wet for most areas (use watercolor medium)
Add striking colors last as glazes
Apply thick, bold strokes (challenging with oil pastel at larger scales)
My Final Process
After much experimentation, here's what worked best:
Background: Watercolor and gouache combination (or oil pastel with safflower oil)
Tonal work: Gouache
Accents: Oil pastel
Glazes: Watercolor for subtle adjustments
Resources
For those interested in diving deeper, here are the books that guided my research (affiliated links to support me a bit, thank you;)):
John Singer Sargent (my personal favorite for its comprehensive timeline and large reproductions)
Conclusion
While no one can truly replicate Sargent's genius, studying his techniques has deeply enriched my understanding of portrait painting. Through this mixed-media exploration, I've found ways to capture some of his magic while developing my own approach. The journey has taught me that sometimes the best way to honor a master is not through exact imitation, but through thoughtful interpretation using contemporary materials and techniques.
I also have a Youtube Video sharing the process, click on the image below:
