plate no. 2089

Mädchen mit Schwänen

Helen Dahm, 1954

oilExpressionismsymbolic paintingfigureswanswaterreedstreessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified form representation and expressive brushwork. It will also provide practice in color mixing to achieve a muted, harmonious palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, background trees.
step 03
Define the figure's form with basic tones, focusing on the light and shadow.
step 04
Add the swans, starting with the largest and working towards the smaller ones.
step 05
Paint the reeds and water lilies, using vertical strokes for the reeds.
step 06
Refine the details of the figure's face and the swans' features.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and interest.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish layer.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water. Use raw umber and white for the figure's skin tones. Mix greens with blues and yellows for the foliage. Use burnt umber for the reeds.

techniques