plate no. 9027

The Haunting Dancer

Gino Severini, 1911

oil, canvasDivisionismgenre paintingfigurescatsdancerspointillismabstractnight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for pointillism and how to build form using small strokes of color. It also provides practice in creating a unified composition with a complex, abstract style.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and cats.
step 02
Divide the composition into larger color zones based on the original painting.
step 03
Begin applying small, individual dots of color within each zone, focusing on local color.
step 04
Introduce variations in color within each zone to create depth and visual interest.
step 05
Pay close attention to the edges of shapes, using color variation to define them.
step 06
Gradually build up layers of dots, allowing colors to mix optically.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures and cats, adding highlights and shadows with small dots.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance of the painting, making adjustments as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · turquoise

Mix various shades of blue by adding white or black to ultramarine. Create browns and oranges by mixing burnt sienna with yellow ochre and small amounts of red. Use white to lighten colors and create pastel shades.

techniques