plate no. 3347

Femme sur un canapé

Francis Gruber, 1945

oilExpressionismportraitfigurecouchportraitdraperyinteriordress

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting complex fabric folds and capturing a likeness with expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a harmonious color scheme with muted tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, the couch, and the background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main color areas of the background drapery and the couch fabric.
step 04
Start defining the folds and shadows in the couch fabric using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Begin working on the figure, focusing on the proportions and the planes of the face.
step 06
Develop the details of the dress, paying attention to the stripes and the way it drapes.
step 07
Refine the background details, including the embroidery and the wall.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · olive green · cream · brown · grey

secondary · rose · yellow ochre · black

Achieve the muted greens by mixing yellow ochre, black, and white. The cream color is a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of brown. The skin tones are achieved by mixing white, rose, yellow ochre, and a touch of brown.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·impasto
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figure.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Ignoring the subtle value shifts in the fabric folds.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (24x30 inches)
·Oil paints: Olive Green, Cream, Brown, Grey, Rose, Yellow Ochre, Black, Titanium White
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags