plate no. 8970
Two Sisters
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through subtle value changes. Students will also practice capturing the essence of a subject with minimal detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and their clothing.
- step 02
Block in the background with a muted teal color.
- step 03
Establish the main skin tone using a base color and then add shadows and highlights.
- step 04
Paint the hair using dark browns and blacks, paying attention to the simple shapes.
- step 05
Block in the colors of the clothing, using a limited palette of white and green.
- step 06
Add details to the faces, focusing on the eyes, lips, and nose.
- step 07
Define the edges of the figures and clothing with dark outlines.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · viridian
secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix skin tones by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Achieve the background color by mixing viridian with raw umber and a touch of white.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·simplified portraiture
- ·limited palette
- ·dry brushing
- ·outlining
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the figures.
- →Making the outlines too harsh and unnatural.
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)
- ·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·apron
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the brushstrokes. Acrylics are recommended for beginners due to their faster drying time.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Dolly Sisters
Kees van Dongen
Nude with Loaves
Jean Helion
My Father
Carlos Botelho
Helen
Chronis Botsoglou
The portrait painter in the country
Albin Egger-Lienz
Marketta on Lázeňská street, Prague
Maria Bozoky
Winter at the Entrepotdok, in Amsterdam city
Paul Werner
Old Woman with Masks (Theatre of Masks)
James Ensor