plate no. 0750

Portrait with apples (Portrait of the Artist's Wife)

August Macke, 1909

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfigureapplesdraperystill lifedress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and drapery, and understanding of light and shadow to create form. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the figure, the drapery, and the plate of fruit.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones, using a limited palette and focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Paint the drapery, using visible brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 05
Add the dark green dress, capturing the subtle folds and shadows.
step 06
Paint the fruit, focusing on their individual colors and shapes.
step 07
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the proportions and expression.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · viridian

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white, with small amounts of red for warmth. Achieve the drapery color by mixing yellow ochre with white and a touch of green. The dark green dress is a mix of Prussian blue and yellow.

techniques