plate no. 4606
A família enferma
Lasar Segall, 1920
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex forms and using a limited palette to create a cohesive and expressive artwork. It also encourages exploration of expressive brushwork and conveying mood through color and composition.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and objects, focusing on proportions and composition.
- step 02
Establish the darkest values with a thin wash of burnt umber or similar dark brown.
- step 03
Begin building up the mid-tones using a mix of raw sienna and white, gradually adding more white for lighter areas.
- step 04
Define the forms further with thicker, more visible brushstrokes, paying attention to the direction of the strokes to suggest form.
- step 05
Add details to the faces and clothing, using darker browns and blacks to create shadows and definition.
- step 06
Introduce subtle variations in color by mixing small amounts of other earth tones into the base colors.
- step 07
Refine the edges and shapes, adjusting the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and volume.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · black
Achieve the various shades by mixing white with raw sienna and burnt umber. Use more burnt umber for darker tones and more white for highlights. Yellow ochre can be added in small amounts to warm up the colors.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·simplified forms
- ·expressive brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the direction of the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-texture canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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