plate no. 8673

Personaje con blusa verde

Marie-Thérèse Auffray, 1946

paintExpressionismportraitportraitfigureboyclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice expressive brushstrokes and color mixing to achieve unusual skin tones. It also encourages simplification of form and bold application of paint.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, neck, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of blue, grey, and brown.
step 03
Establish the main areas of color on the face using a base layer of green and yellow.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the face to create depth and form.
step 05
Paint the hair with dark brown, using visible brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Define the clothing with dark green and add the red detail.
step 07
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes and mouth.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Cadmium Yellow · Burnt Umber · Titanium White

secondary · Cadmium Red · Sap Green · Payne's Grey

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and create skin tones by blending green, yellow, and a touch of red. Use white to lighten colors and umber/grey to darken.

techniques