plate no. 0678

Le Sphinx

Kees van Dongen, 1925

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitwomandresschairflowersvase

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and conveying mood through subtle color variations. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of depth with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the chair and vase.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, chair, and vase with simplified color masses.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, focusing on capturing the highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and texture.
step 06
Add details to the chair and vase, including the decorative elements and the cast shadows.
step 07
Paint the flowers, using short, broken brushstrokes to create a sense of texture and movement.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson · viridian

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, raw umber, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson to warm up the skin tones and add subtle color variations. Viridian can be used to create the greens in the flower leaves.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of harmony.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Not capturing the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·ivory black oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·#2 round brush
·#6 filbert brush
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium gloss
·easel
·odorless mineral spirits

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas with a thin layer of raw umber can help to create a more unified and harmonious painting.

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