plate no. 4983

Little Louise

Amedeo Modigliani, 1915

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfigurechairindoorclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating a sense of depth with limited values. It also encourages expressive brushwork and capturing the essence of a subject rather than precise realism.

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 and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, chair, and background.
step 03
Mix the skin tones using a limited palette of white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red.
step 04
Apply the skin tones with loose brushstrokes, focusing on the planes of the face and body.
step 05
Define the features of the face with simple lines and shadows.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and chair, using darker values to create depth.
step 07
Refine the background with subtle variations in color and texture.
step 08
Add the signature and title in a similar style to the original.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Darker tones are created by adding burnt umber or black. The background uses a mix of raw umber, black, and a touch of blue.

techniques

·simplified portraiture
·limited palette color mixing
·expressive brushwork
·scumbling
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Getting bogged down in realism
→Using too many colors
→Ignoring the overall composition

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20)
·oil paints (burnt sienna, yellow ochre, titanium white, ivory black, ultramarine blue, raw umber)
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine

optional