plate no. 6225
Portrait of woman
Alberto Giacometti, 1965
some experience helpful
This painting offers a great opportunity to practice expressive line work and capturing a likeness with minimal color. Students will learn to suggest form and depth using loose, gestural strokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure and background with charcoal or pencil.
- step 02
Establish the main lines of the figure's pose and facial features, focusing on proportions.
- step 03
Block in the background washes using diluted burnt sienna and grey.
- step 04
Add darker accents and shadows to the figure using a darker grey or black.
- step 05
Refine the facial features and details with careful line work.
- step 06
Reinforce the expressive quality of the lines by varying pressure and direction.
- step 07
Add final touches of color to enhance the mood and atmosphere.
- step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and balance.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · grey · black
secondary · white
Mix grey by diluting black with water or a mixing medium. Vary the intensity of burnt sienna by adding more or less water.
techniques
- ·expressive linework
- ·washes
- ·dry brushing
- ·gestural drawing
- ·hatching
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the sketch.
- →Using too much color and overpowering the line work.
- →Not paying attention to proportions and creating a distorted figure.
- →Making lines too uniform and lacking variation.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·charcoal or pencil
- ·watercolor paper or canvas
- ·burnt sienna watercolor or acrylic paint
- ·black watercolor or acrylic paint
- ·round brush
- ·water or acrylic medium
- ·palette
- ·water container
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
Use a slightly textured paper to enhance the dry brush effect. Experiment with different types of brushes to achieve varied line weights.
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