
plate no. 8984
Egon Schiele, 1909
This painting provides practice in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabric, and creating subtle patterned backgrounds. Students will learn to simplify forms and capture a likeness using a limited palette.
technical profile
approach — 8 steps
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.
Block in the main color areas: the pink of the jacket, the gray of the chair and background, and the dark hair.
Begin refining the skin tones, mixing subtle variations of pink, brown, and gray.
Add details to the jacket, such as the folds and shadows.
Develop the pattern on the chair and background, paying attention to the shapes and colors.
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Add the small details like the hand holding the brush and the floral pattern on the chair.
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.
color palette
primary · rose madder · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix the pink for the jacket by combining rose madder and white. Use raw umber and white for the gray tones in the background and chair. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or cadmium red to warm up the grays.
techniques
common pitfalls
surface · stretched canvas
required
optional
Use good quality oil paints for best results. A medium can be added to the paint to improve flow and drying time.
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