plate no. 6917

Churchgoer

Werner Berg, 1961

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremountainstreeslandscapeheadscarf

some experience helpful

This painting is a good exercise in simplifying forms and understanding light and shadow on a face. Recreating it will help students practice color mixing with a limited palette and creating depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, mountains, and trees, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, mountains, and figure using diluted paint.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow on the face, focusing on the planes and angles.
step 04
Add details to the headscarf, capturing the folds and highlights.
step 05
Paint the trees and foliage, varying the greens and blues to create depth.
step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the mountains, using lighter blues for the distant peaks.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figure and landscape.
step 08
Check the overall balance and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · viridian green

Mix blues and whites for the sky and mountains, adding a touch of yellow ochre to warm the blues. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the skin tones, and mix greens with blue and yellow.

techniques