plate no. 7863

Untitled (Standing Man and Woman)

Mark Rothko, 1938

oilExpressionismportraitfiguresportraitclothingcoupleinteriorarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified form, limited color palettes, and expressive brushwork. Students will also learn to create a sense of depth and atmosphere using color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, focusing on overall tones.
step 03
Build up layers of color, gradually adding darker values in shadow areas.
step 04
Define the figures' forms with thicker, more visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Add details to the faces and clothing, keeping the style loose and expressive.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and color balance as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · rose madder

secondary · titanium white · ivory black

Mix browns and grays by combining umber, blue, and white. Use rose madder to add warmth to shadows and create subtle variations in skin tones. Mix blue and rose madder for the dress.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color layering
·simplified forms
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
→Not paying attention to the overall composition and color balance.
→Making the figures too realistic and losing the simplified form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, rose madder, titanium white, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife