plate no. 1636
Triple portrait
Kazimir Malevich, 1933
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing for skin tones and learn to simplify forms using visible brushstrokes. It also provides an opportunity to understand how to create depth with subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the three figures.
- step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of blue and dark green.
- step 03
Establish the main color blocks for the clothing: red for the central figure, yellow and blue for the others.
- step 04
Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow, and a touch of blue. Apply these tones to the faces, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 05
Define the features of the faces with darker values, using short, visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the black collar and the red cap.
- step 07
Refine the background and adjust the values to create depth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and texture.
color palette
primary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · burnt umber · viridian green
Mix skin tones by combining white, red, yellow, and a touch of blue. Vary the proportions to create different shades. Achieve the red clothing color by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt umber for darker areas.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·color mixing
- ·blocking in
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Being too precise with details, losing the expressive brushwork.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes in the skin tones.
- →Creating flat, lifeless colors instead of vibrant, textured surfaces.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 4, 6, 8)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 6, 10)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·apron
Use a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and improve blending.
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