plate no. 5864

A Woman's Portrait

Kees van Dongen, 1909

oilFauvismportraitportraitwomanhairfacenecklaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing for skin tones and hair, as well as capturing a likeness with expressive brushstrokes. It also provides an opportunity to explore a limited palette and create depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the face, hair, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with broad strokes of purple and red.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with light pink and green undertones.
step 04
Add the hair using a mix of orange, yellow, and brown, focusing on the overall shape and flow.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details such as the necklace and the white collar.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · burnt umber

Mix white with small amounts of red, yellow, and blue to achieve the skin tones. Use a combination of orange, yellow, and brown for the hair, adding touches of red for warmth. Mix purple with red and blue, adjusting the ratio for different shades.

techniques