plate no. 0755

Old woman with red scarf

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanscarfheadprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing form with limited color variations. It's a good exercise in understanding value and temperature changes to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and scarf.
step 02
Establish the background with loose, blended strokes of earth tones.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the figure with a mix of black and burnt umber.
step 04
Add the red scarf, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 05
Begin building up the facial features, using small strokes of red, brown, and white.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 07
Add final touches to the background and clothing, blending and softening edges as needed.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and values.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · black · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix various shades of brown and red by combining burnt umber, black, and cadmium red. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Yellow ochre can be added to warm up the skin tones.

techniques