plate no. 2207

Woman in Blue

Alexander Bogen, 1981

oilExpressionismnude painting (nu)figurenudeshawlportraitdark background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create form and mood. It also offers practice in capturing the human figure with simplified shapes and dynamic strokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with dark greens and browns, leaving room for the figure.
step 03
Establish the main areas of color on the figure: skin tones, blue shawl, and red accents.
step 04
Begin adding layers of color to the skin, mixing pinks, yellows, and blues to create highlights and shadows.
step 05
Use bold brushstrokes to define the folds and patterns in the blue shawl, incorporating various blues, greens, and hints of other colors.
step 06
Add red accents to the chair and other areas to create visual interest and contrast.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, focusing on the eyes and mouth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium red · Yellow ochre · Titanium white

secondary · Viridian green · Alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white, adding small amounts of blue for shadows. Achieve the blue shawl by mixing Prussian blue with touches of green and other colors for variation.

techniques