Phyllis Rubin by Alice Neel

plate no. 9944

Phyllis Rubin

Alice Neel, 1952

oilExpressionismportraitportraitchildfiguredresschaircurly hair

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice portraiture and capturing likeness with simplified forms. Students can learn about color mixing to achieve skin tones and the blue of the dress.

technical profile

palette complexity

3

brushwork visibility

4

value contrast

3

compositional simplicity

4

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of red-orange paint.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a mix of browns, reds, and white.
step 04
Paint the blue dress, varying the shade slightly to create form.
step 05
Add the white collar, paying attention to the ruffles.
step 06
Define the facial features, focusing on the eyes and mouth.
step 07
Paint the hair with short, textured strokes of brown and black.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the face, dress, and chair.

color palette

primary · red-orange · cerulean blue · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing raw umber, burnt sienna, and white. The blue dress is cerulean blue lightened with white. The background is a mix of red and orange.

techniques

·blocking in
·color mixing
·dry brushing
·simplified forms
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Getting the proportions wrong
→Using too much detail in the hair
→Not capturing the likeness of the subject

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes
·flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or acrylic medium

optional

·painting easel
·rags
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending.

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