plate no. 8760
The White Man
Lyonel Feininger, 1907
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive and expressive artwork. It also encourages experimentation with exaggerated proportions and perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the exaggerated proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, buildings, and the figure's body.
- step 03
Add the darker tones to define the shadows and create depth in the buildings and figure.
- step 04
Refine the details of the figure's face, hat, and clothing, using short, visible brushstrokes.
- step 05
Paint the windows and architectural details of the buildings.
- step 06
Add the smaller figure in the background, keeping it simple and dark.
- step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a harmonious and expressive painting.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall effect.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
secondary · sap green · ivory black · cadmium red
Mix yellow ochre with white for the figure's body. Create various shades of green by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Use burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create the darker browns and blacks.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·visible brushstrokes
- ·color mixing
- ·simplification of form
- ·exaggerated perspective
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, losing the expressive brushstrokes.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Making the composition too detailed and losing the overall simplicity.
- →Not achieving enough contrast between light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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