plate no. 7052

Blue Portrait

Kazimir Malevich, 1930

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureclothingbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified form representation and expressive brushwork. It also provides experience with color mixing to achieve specific moods and atmospheric effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: blue for the coat, white for the face, black for the hair, and yellow/blue for the background.
step 03
Refine the shapes of the face and clothing, paying attention to proportions.
step 04
Add the pink collar, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Develop the background with varied brushstrokes and color variations.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using subtle color changes.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and color balance as needed.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium yellow

secondary · alizarin crimson · black

Mix various shades of blue by adding white or black to ultramarine blue. Create the pink collar by mixing alizarin crimson with white. Achieve the background colors by mixing blues and yellows with white.

techniques