plate no. 9962

Girl with a Blue Scarf

Gwen John, 1924

oilPost-Impressionismportraitfigureportraitscarfdresswallclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing to achieve muted tones and develop skills in capturing form with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also provides an opportunity to study simplified portraiture.

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 and background, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main color areas of the figure (dress, scarf, skin) with simplified shapes.
step 04
Begin layering colors within each area, building up depth and form with visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle shifts in color and value to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness with minimal detail.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix muted purples and browns by combining blues, reds, and browns. Use white to lighten values and create subtle variations in tone. Add a touch of yellow ochre to warm up skin tones.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·color layering
·scumbling
·broken color
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not achieving the muted palette.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and creating a flat, lifeless image.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife