plate no. 7508

Mira Baue

Max Kurzweil, 1908

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfigureflowersvasedressgirl

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, vase, and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using subtle color variations to create form.
step 04
Paint the dress, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 05
Block in the colors of the flowers and vase, paying attention to their shapes and values.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final touches.
step 08
Let dry and add a varnish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · cadmium red light · purple

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Create the flower colors by mixing primary colors and white.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·portraiture
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Making the colors too saturated and unrealistic.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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