plate no. 0152
Portrait of a Woman
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified portraiture and expressive brushwork. It also provides an opportunity to experiment with color mixing and layering to achieve a vibrant, Fauvist style.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the face, hair, and necklace onto the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of blue, varying the shades slightly.
- step 03
Apply the base color for the skin, a mix of white, blue, and a touch of red, using visible brushstrokes.
- step 04
Paint the hair with bold strokes of orange and red, allowing some of the background to show through.
- step 05
Add the details of the eyes, lips, and necklace, using simplified shapes and strong colors.
- step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights on the face and neck to create depth.
- step 07
Add small details like the earring and the pendant on the necklace.
- step 08
Review and adjust the colors and values to achieve the desired expressive effect.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red · cadmium orange
secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green
Mix white with blue to create various shades for the skin and background. Combine red and orange for the hair. Use yellow ochre to create the gold color of the necklace.
techniques
- ·expressive brushwork
- ·color layering
- ·simplified shapes
- ·wet-on-dry painting
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy effect.
- →Getting bogged down in details and losing the expressive quality.
- →Making the skin tones too realistic.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#2 round brush
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits or paint thinner (for cleanup)
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Acrylic paints are a good option for beginners due to their fast drying time.
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