plate no. 8961

Mutter Mit Tochter

Cuno Amiet, 1913

oilFauvismportraitfiguresportraitmotherdaughter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, expressive brushwork, and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and emotion through color and gesture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of orange and peach tones.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for each figure: green for the mother's dress, blue for the daughter's.
step 04
Mix and apply the skin tones, using yellows, greens, and pinks to create highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using short, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the direction of light and shadow.
step 07
Add the red accents on the clothing.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and expressive painting.

color palette

primary · yellow · green · blue · orange

secondary · red · pink · purple

Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow with small amounts of green, red, and blue. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Mix orange with red and yellow to create the background.

techniques