plate no. 7338

Portrait of a Woman in Profile

Koloman Moser, 1912

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitwomanprofilehairclothingfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and layering brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and understanding basic portrait proportions.

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 head, neck, and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of beige and gray tones, using loose brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the dark areas of the hair with a mix of black, blue, and green.
step 04
Apply a base layer of yellow to the face and neck, then add shadows with blues and grays.
step 05
Build up the colors in the face with layers of yellow, pink, and blue to create depth and form.
step 06
Paint the clothing with a mix of white, pink, and blue, using visible brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and tone.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · black

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Mix yellow ochre with white and small amounts of blue and crimson to achieve the skin tones. Use raw umber and ultramarine blue to create the dark tones for the hair. Mix white with alizarin crimson and a touch of blue for the clothing.

techniques

·color layering
·broken color
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·portrait sketching

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
→Using too much paint, which can obscure the texture of the canvas.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·varnish

Use a medium-grain canvas to achieve a similar texture to the original painting. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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