plate no. 3254
The thinking woman
Alexej von Jawlensky, 1912
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color blocking and expressive brushwork to convey form and emotion. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex shapes into geometric forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, hand, and background, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color using simplified shapes, ignoring details.
- step 03
Start with the background, then move to the larger areas of the figure.
- step 04
Gradually refine the shapes and colors, adding more subtle variations.
- step 05
Use bold brushstrokes to define the edges and create texture.
- step 06
Pay attention to the color relationships between different areas of the painting.
- step 07
Add the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red · burnt umber
secondary · viridian green · purple · orange
Mix various shades of blue for the background, and use red, yellow, and blue to create the skin tones. Mix green from blue and yellow, and purple from red and blue.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·expressive brushwork
- ·simplification of form
- ·color mixing
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy effect.
- →Focusing too much on details early on.
- →Not simplifying the shapes enough.
- →Ignoring the color relationships between different areas.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Using a limited palette will help to create a harmonious color scheme. Experiment with different brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
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