plate no. 0068

Two Women

Lois Mailou Jones, 1950

oilExpressionismportraitportraitsfigureswomenfacesclothingbackground pattern

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating dynamic backgrounds. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the two figures and their placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background pattern with broad strokes, focusing on the overall design rather than precise details.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a limited palette of browns, reds, and yellows, paying attention to the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the unique characteristics of each woman.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, using color variations and brushstrokes to create texture and form.
step 06
Develop the background pattern further, adding more detail and variation to the colors and shapes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

secondary · viridian green · titanium white · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, cadmium red, and yellow ochre with varying amounts of white. Use ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow to create greens for the background. Mix white with primary colors to create lighter tints.

techniques

·portrait painting
·color mixing for skin tones
·expressive brushwork
·background pattern creation
·layering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the faces wrong
→Overworking the details too early
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing
→Ignoring the background and its relationship to the figures

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)

optional

·medium gloss
·painting easel
·rags for cleaning brushes
·photo reference of the painting

Using a toned canvas can help to establish the overall color harmony of the painting. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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