plate no. 1340

Head of a Woman

oilExpressionismportraitportraitwomanheadveildressfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in hatching, cross-hatching, and layering colors to create depth and texture. It also encourages careful observation of patterns and details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, veil, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones using cross-hatching techniques, focusing on the shadows and highlights.
step 04
Paint the hair with dark blue, adding highlights with lighter blues and whites.
step 05
Create the veil by layering thin washes of blue and grey, then add the intricate pattern with a fine brush and white paint.
step 06
Paint the dress, paying attention to the patterns and colors.
step 07
Add final details and refine the edges.
step 08
Consider adding a glaze to unify the colors.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · magenta

Mix various shades of brown and grey by combining burnt umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use cadmium red light and titanium white for the skin tones, and cerulean blue with white for the veil.

techniques