plate no. 5413

Schoolgirl and Buildings

Charles Blackman, 1953

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigurebuildingsskyhatroofs

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified form representation and expressive brushwork. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve specific moods and atmospheric effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, figure, and hat, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, using loose brushstrokes.
step 03
Apply the dark blue color to the building walls, varying the tone slightly to create depth.
step 04
Paint the roofs with a light pinkish-orange, blending the colors slightly.
step 05
Add the figure's dress with a solid blue, defining the folds with darker shades.
step 06
Paint the face with a reddish-pink, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add the details of the hat with white and light gray tones.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the brushwork.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · burnt sienna · raw umber · gray

Mix the roof color by combining cadmium red and titanium white with a touch of burnt sienna. Create the darker blues for the buildings by adding raw umber to ultramarine blue.

techniques