plate no. 0662
Approach to Life
Nina Tokhtaman Valetova, 2019
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in geometric abstraction, color blocking, and precise line work. It also provides practice in translating a representational subject into a stylized, simplified form.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic outline of the head and shoulders, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Divide the face and background into geometric shapes, using straight lines.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas: teal for the background, green for the face, red and yellow for accents.
- step 04
Mix lighter and darker shades of each color to create value contrast within the shapes.
- step 05
Carefully paint each shape, ensuring clean, crisp edges.
- step 06
Add the black line details, following the original pattern.
- step 07
Refine the colors and edges as needed.
- step 08
Add final details to the eyes.
color palette
primary · teal · green · red · yellow
secondary · black · white
Mix lighter and darker shades of teal and green by adding white or black. The green can be created by mixing blue and yellow.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·hard-edge painting
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·line work
common pitfalls
- →Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Uneven or wobbly lines when painting the geometric shapes.
- →Muddy colors due to over-mixing.
- →Inconsistent line weight in the black details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic paints (teal, green, red, yellow, black, white)
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Ruler
- ·Pencil
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Acrylic medium
Use good quality acrylic paints for vibrant colors and smooth coverage. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 inches) is recommended for beginners.
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