plate no. 7006

Le voile Persan

John Duncan Fergusson, 1909

oilFauvismportraitportraitwomanhatflowersclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, expressive brushwork, and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It's a good exercise in capturing a likeness with bold, non-realistic colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the woman's head, hat, and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the background flowers, using simplified shapes.
step 03
Establish the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Define the features of the face, using bold brushstrokes and distinct color choices.
step 05
Paint the hat, capturing its shape and the red accents.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow.
step 07
Refine the background, adding more detail and texture to the flowers.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian green · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Mix skin tones by combining white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Achieve the blues by mixing ultramarine with white or a touch of red. Create the greens by mixing blue and yellow.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·expressive brushwork
·color temperature
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details before establishing the overall composition.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, yellow ochre, viridian green, alizarin crimson, raw umber)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags