plate no. 1037
Mother and Child II
Wifredo Lam, 1939
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure and background.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background.
- step 03
Add the darker tones to create depth and shadow.
- step 04
Define the edges of the figure with darker outlines.
- step 05
Paint the geometric shapes of the child, using bright colors.
- step 06
Add details to the face and hands.
- step 07
Refine the brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Burnt umber · Rose madder
secondary · Yellow ochre · Titanium white · Payne's gray
Mix burnt umber and rose madder for the skin tones. Use white to lighten the blues and browns. Mix yellow ochre with a touch of rose madder to create pink.
techniques
- ·Blocking in
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Color mixing
- ·Simplification of form
- ·Expressive brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too many colors
- →Losing the abstract quality
- →Not simplifying the forms enough
materials
surface · Watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Gouache paints
- ·Watercolor paper
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Masking tape
- ·Easel
Use good quality gouache paints for best results. Experiment with different brushstrokes to create texture.
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