plate no. 0165

Woman at the Window

Rik Wouters, 1915

oilFauvismportraitfigurewindowbuildingportraitinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork, color mixing for skin tones and fabric, and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes. It also allows for practice in capturing a likeness with expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure, window, and background buildings.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and working forward.
step 03
Mix and apply the base color for the woman's dress, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 04
Add the white headscarf and shawl, using thin washes of color to create the translucent effect.
step 05
Develop the facial features with loose brushstrokes, focusing on capturing the likeness rather than precise detail.
step 06
Define the window frame and background buildings with bolder strokes and contrasting colors.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figure and background, adjusting the values as needed.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments to balance the colors and values.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · viridian

Mix reds and blues with white to create the various tones in the figure's skin and clothing. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create warm shadows and highlights. Mix blues and greens for the background buildings and window.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color temperature
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Getting bogged down in trying to create a perfect likeness.
→Not paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
→Ignoring the importance of the background in creating depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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