plate no. 6482
Head of a Woman
Alexej von Jawlensky, 1911
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, expressive brushwork, and understanding how to use color to create form and mood. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes and planes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and hair, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark blue, using broad brushstrokes.
- step 03
Apply a base layer of yellow to the face and neck, varying the tone slightly.
- step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the face using reds, purples, and greens, blending slightly.
- step 05
Paint the hair using a mix of reds, yellows, and purples, using short, expressive strokes.
- step 06
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with darker colors.
- step 07
Add the blue shirt, varying the tone and using visible brushstrokes.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to match the original painting.
color palette
primary · yellow · blue · red
secondary · purple · green
Mix greens from blue and yellow, purples from red and blue. Use white sparingly to lighten colors, focusing on layering and blending instead.
techniques
- ·Impasto
- ·Color layering
- ·Expressive brushwork
- ·Color mixing
- ·Blocking in
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy effect.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Using too much white, which can make the colors look chalky.
- →Not capturing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Easel
- ·Apron
Use good quality paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paints and improve blending.
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