Leonie by Constant Permeke

plate no. 8429

Leonie

Constant Permeke, 1932

oilExpressionismportraitfigureportraitwomanneutral background

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified form and limited color palettes. It's a good exercise in capturing a likeness with minimal detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

2

brushwork visibility

3

value contrast

3

compositional simplicity

4

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color using a thin wash of brown.
step 03
Gradually build up the darker tones to define the shadows and contours.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the simplified shapes.
step 05
Add subtle highlights to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Define the edges of the figure with darker outlines.
step 07
Blend the edges of the forms to create a soft, unified look.
step 08
Add the artist's signature.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix raw umber with white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. Use black to darken the shadows.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplified aesthetic.
→Using too much color and creating a muddy effect.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Not blending the edges of the forms sufficiently.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·raw umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·ivory black oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·#4 round brush
·#8 flat brush
·palette

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

A slightly textured canvas will enhance the dry brush effect.

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