plate no. 8749

Maine, Girl with Bicycle and Recumbent Man

Louisa Matthiasdottir, 1976

oilExpressionismgenre paintingtreesfiguresbicyclelandscapelakefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using color to define form and light. It also encourages expressive brushwork and capturing a sense of atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figures, trees, and landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and ground.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the trees, paying attention to their relative values.
step 04
Paint the figures, focusing on their simplified forms and the color of their clothing.
step 05
Add details to the foliage, using expressive brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Refine the shapes and colors, adjusting values to create depth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form of the objects.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · sap green · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and use white to lighten colors and create tints. Browns can be achieved by mixing complementary colors like red and green or blue and orange.

techniques

·blocking in
·expressive brushstrokes
·color mixing
·simplification of form
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details too early.
→Not simplifying the forms enough.
→Inaccurate color mixing leading to muddy colors.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes
·flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags
·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning oil brushes)

Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) to allow for sufficient detail. Acrylics are a good choice for beginners due to their fast drying time.

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