plate no. 7354

Brother Brown

Lois Mailou Jones, 1931

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguretreesbuildingchairlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, atmospheric perspective, and capturing light and shadow with watercolor washes. It also provides practice in rendering textures like fabric and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: figure, chair, tree, building.
step 02
Establish the background washes, focusing on the atmospheric perspective and color variations in the trees and sky.
step 03
Block in the basic skin tones and clothing colors of the figure.
step 04
Add details to the face, paying attention to the light and shadow to create form.
step 05
Refine the details of the chair and the bag, adding texture and dimension.
step 06
Work on the details of the building in the background, keeping it soft and less defined than the foreground.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Review and adjust values and colors to ensure harmony and depth.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · cerulean blue · yellow ochre

secondary · sap green · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and green by blending the primary colors. Use diluted washes for the sky and background, and more concentrated colors for the foreground.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·dry brush
·layering
·glazing
·wet-on-dry

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Not allowing washes to dry completely before adding subsequent layers.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paints
·Watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·Watercolor paper (140lb)
·Palette
·Water container
·Pencil
·Eraser
·Masking tape

optional

·palette knife
·gouache
·watercolor pencils

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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