plate no. 7451

Female in front of her house

Jan Mankes, 1914

oilSymbolismgenre paintingbuildingfiguredoorwindowbricktrees

some experience helpful

This painting provides an opportunity to practice color mixing to achieve muted tones and to learn how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes. Students can also develop skills in creating texture with brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the building, door, and figure.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the ground.
step 03
Mix the various shades of green and brown for the brick wall, and apply them using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Paint the door and window frames, paying attention to the subtle variations in color.
step 05
Add the figure, focusing on the simple shapes of the body and clothing.
step 06
Refine the details of the brickwork, door, and window, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add the trees in the background, using a loose and impressionistic style.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · muted green · light blue · white · brown

secondary · dark blue · red-brown · yellow ochre

Mix greens by combining blues, yellows, and browns. Mute the colors by adding a touch of complementary color (e.g., a little red to green).

techniques

·color mixing
·blocking in
·broken brushstrokes
·simplifying forms
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the simplicity of the original.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Not paying attention to the subtle variations in color within each area.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (muted green, light blue, white, brown, dark blue, red-brown, yellow ochre)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil