plate no. 0823
Untitled (Head of a Woman)
Alexander Boghossian, 1961
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also encourages experimentation with non-realistic color palettes and expressive mark-making.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, neck, and facial features.
- step 02
Apply a base layer of red paint for the background.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with a mix of orange, brown, and black, leaving some background visible.
- step 04
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth using gray, white, and black.
- step 05
Create texture on the face by dabbing and stippling paint with a dry brush.
- step 06
Paint the hair with black and dark brown, using loose, expressive strokes.
- step 07
Add details to the neck and collar area with gold, white, and black.
- step 08
Refine the edges and add final details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · red · orange · black · brown
secondary · white · gray · gold
Achieve the skin tones by mixing orange, brown, and black with small amounts of white. Create variations by adding touches of yellow or red.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·stippling
- ·expressive brushstrokes
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy effect.
- →Making the facial features too symmetrical.
- →Using too much detail, losing the expressive quality of the original.
- →Not allowing layers to dry before adding more paint.
materials
surface · canvas board
required
- ·acrylic paints
- ·red paint
- ·orange paint
- ·black paint
- ·white paint
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·canvas board
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
Use heavy body acrylics for better texture. Consider using a slightly textured canvas to enhance the dry brush effect.
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