plate no. 1147
Head of a Woman
Francis Bacon, 1960
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a distorted, emotional portrait. It also focuses on understanding how to create depth and form with limited value contrast.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head and background, focusing on proportions and composition.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of dark green for the background, gradually building up layers to create depth.
- step 03
Block in the dark areas of the hair and facial features with a dark brown or black.
- step 04
Begin layering in the flesh tones, using a limited palette of reds, whites, and browns.
- step 05
Use expressive brushstrokes to create the distorted features of the face.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 07
Add highlights and details to the face and clothing to create contrast and interest.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · viridian green · titanium white · alizarin crimson · raw umber
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix various shades of green by combining viridian green with raw umber and white. Achieve flesh tones by blending alizarin crimson, white, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use raw umber and ivory black to create dark shadows and hair color.
techniques
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·color blending
- ·layering
- ·expressive brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the expressive quality.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the distorted features of the face.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle value changes in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette knife
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a smooth surface to allow for easy blending. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint.
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