plate no. 6866
Astonishment
Alexej von Jawlensky, 1919
some experience helpful
This painting offers a great opportunity to practice color mixing and layering to achieve subtle tonal variations. Students can also explore simplified forms and expressive brushstrokes to convey emotion.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the face, eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 02
Apply a base layer of muted grey/beige across the entire canvas.
- step 03
Block in the larger areas of color, such as the blue/grey skin tone, pink cheeks, and red lips.
- step 04
Add the darker lines defining the facial features (eyes, nose, mouth, hair).
- step 05
Introduce small dabs of color around the face to create visual texture and interest.
- step 06
Refine the shapes and colors, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
- step 07
Add final details, such as the highlights in the eyes and the dark lines of the hair.
- step 08
Let dry and add a varnish layer.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Titanium White · Cadmium Red Light · Yellow Ochre
secondary · Burnt Umber · Emerald Green
Mix white with small amounts of blue and yellow ochre to create the base skin tone. Use red and white for the cheeks, and red with a touch of umber for the lips. Mix blue and yellow for the green accents.
techniques
- ·Color layering
- ·Impasto
- ·Simplified forms
- ·Expressive brushstrokes
- ·Color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Making the lines too harsh and defined.
- →Not capturing the expressive nature of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Flat brush (size 8)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Easel
- ·Apron
Use good quality paints for better color saturation. Consider using a toned canvas to start with.
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