plate no. 3294

Two Girl Friends

Yiannis Moralis, 1946

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitfiguresportraitclothingtoolsinteriorhands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to render fabric and textures using visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a rough sketch of the composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors, starting with the background and larger areas of clothing.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Add details to the clothing, including the folds and wrinkles in the fabric.
step 05
Work on the hands, carefully observing the shapes and shadows.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subjects.
step 07
Add details to the background and any other objects in the painting.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to create a cohesive and finished painting.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and blue. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create dark shadows and blacks.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·layering
·blending
·visible brushstrokes

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figures
→Overblending the skin tones
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color
→Getting lost in details too early
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subjects

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (cadmium red, ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags