plate no. 8905

Double Portrait (The Artist and His Wife)

Vilmos Aba-Novak, 1925

oil, canvasExpressionismself-portraitfiguresportraittreesartistwifeoutdoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and capturing form with visible brushstrokes. It also encourages exploration of expressive portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the background, figures, and clothing with thin washes.
step 03
Start building up layers of color on the faces, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the clothing and background, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the facial features and add highlights to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Work on the hands and the artist's canvas, adding details and texture.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast to create a cohesive image.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, and white. Greens are achieved by mixing ultramarine blue and yellow ochre, and varying the ratios for different shades.

techniques