plate no. 6732

Kond, Woman in Red

Petros Malayan, 1989

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingsfigurestreetvillagestonesshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing light and shadow to define form. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes and expressive mark-making.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, figure, and the basic ground plane.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted ochre or raw sienna to the entire paper as a base tone.
step 03
Begin with the sky and background buildings, using diluted blues and grays, allowing colors to blend on the paper.
step 04
Paint the darker areas of the buildings and ground with a mix of burnt umber, Payne's gray, and a touch of crimson.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and roof lines, using a smaller brush and slightly more concentrated paint.
step 06
Paint the figure with red, purple, and white, keeping the details minimal.
step 07
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Use dry brush technique for the textures of the stones and ground.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · Payne's gray · raw sienna

secondary · crimson · ultramarine blue · white

Mix browns and grays by combining burnt umber, Payne's gray, and small amounts of crimson or blue. Use plenty of water to achieve transparent washes.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·layering washes
·lifting color
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Using too much water and losing control
→Making the colors too saturated
→Not establishing a clear value structure

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·#6 round brush
·#2 round brush
·water container
·palette
·masking tape

optional

·palette knife
·lifting preparation
·spray bottle

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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