Portrait of Van de Velde by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

plate no. 8156

Portrait of Van de Velde

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

oilExpressionismportraitportraitmountainsbuildingsfigurelandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this image will help students understand the use of stark contrast and bold lines to create a powerful expressionistic portrait. It also encourages simplification of complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

1

brushwork visibility

5

value contrast

5

compositional simplicity

3

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and landscape elements.
step 02
Identify the major areas of light and dark, simplifying the shapes.
step 03
Using a thick brush or marker, start filling in the darkest areas with solid black.
step 04
Add the details within the dark areas, using varying line weights to create texture and depth.
step 05
Define the edges of the figure and landscape with bold, confident lines.
step 06
Refine the white areas, ensuring they are clean and distinct from the black.
step 07
Add any remaining details or textures to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · black

secondary ·

This image relies solely on black and white, so no color mixing is required.

techniques

·high contrast
·line work
·simplification
·mark making

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the details and losing the bold, graphic quality.
→Creating muddy or indistinct lines.
→Not achieving enough contrast between the black and white areas.
→Failing to simplify the forms and shapes.

materials

surface · Smooth paper or canvas

required

·White paper or canvas
·Black ink or paint
·Thick brush or marker
·Pencil
·Eraser
·Ruler

optional

·Palette knife
·Tracing paper

Using a thicker paper or canvas will prevent the ink or paint from bleeding through.

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