plate no. 7085

Portrait of Ahko

Arshile Gorky, 1937

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanhairclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying forms and using expressive brushstrokes to define shapes and create texture. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and understanding color relationships.

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 figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of brown paint.
step 03
Establish the main areas of color for the face, hair, and clothing, using simplified shapes.
step 04
Mix and apply the base skin tone, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add the darker tones for the hair, using bold brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Define the clothing with broad strokes of orange, yellow, and red, blending slightly where necessary.
step 07
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth with small, precise brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the hair, clothing, and face to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Darker tones are created by adding burnt umber and a hint of blue. The orange is a mix of red and yellow.

techniques

·blocking in
·expressive brushstrokes
·color mixing
·simplifying forms
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife