plate no. 7637
Mujer sentada
Wifredo Lam, 1955
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in contour drawing, simplified form representation, and creating subtle value gradations with a limited color palette. It also encourages exploration of abstracting the human form.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair using a pencil.
- step 02
Define the main contours of the figure, focusing on the overall gesture and pose.
- step 03
Add the details of the dress and facial features, simplifying the forms as needed.
- step 04
Mix a light grey wash using titanium white and a touch of black or burnt umber.
- step 05
Apply the grey wash to the background and figure, creating subtle value variations.
- step 06
Use a darker grey or black to add shadows and define the contours further.
- step 07
Add hints of blue or green to the background to create depth.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · burnt umber
secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green
Create various shades of grey by mixing titanium white with small amounts of black or burnt umber. Add tiny amounts of blue or green to the grey to create subtle color variations.
techniques
- ·contour drawing
- ·value shading
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
- →Using too much color and deviating from the limited palette.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions and gesture of the figure.
- →Making the values too dark or too light, losing the subtle gradations.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·graphite pencil
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·round brushes (small and medium)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
A toned canvas can be helpful for establishing the mid-tones. Use a light grey or beige tone.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
