plate no. 6901

Solange listening to Chopin

Maria Bozoky, 1994

watercolorExpressionismportraitfigurewomanchairpianoportraitdress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing figures with expressive lines. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere with limited detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and objects with a pencil, focusing on proportions and composition.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted brown watercolor to the background, allowing it to dry.
step 03
Paint the blue chair with varying shades of blue, leaving some white space for highlights.
step 04
Apply a base layer of red watercolor to the woman's dress, creating variations in tone.
step 05
Add darker red and brown washes to the dress to create shadows and details.
step 06
Paint the skin tones with a light peach or yellow wash, adding subtle shadows with diluted brown or red.
step 07
Paint the figure at the piano with loose washes of purple, brown, and blue.
step 08
Add final details and outlines with a fine-tipped brush and dark brown or black watercolor.

color palette

primary · red · blue · brown

secondary · peach · yellow · purple

Mix different shades of red by adding brown or a touch of blue. Create skin tones by mixing yellow, red, and white. Achieve depth in the blue chair by layering different blues and adding a touch of black.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·watercolor washes
·expressive line work
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive style.
→Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
→Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding new ones.
→Failing to capture the proportions and gestures of the figures.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paints (red, blue, brown, yellow, peach, black)
·Watercolor paper (140lb or heavier)
·Round watercolor brushes (various sizes)
·Fine-tipped brush
·Pencil
·Eraser
·Water container
·Palette

optional

·Masking fluid
·Palette knife
·Spray bottle

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for better blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein