plate no. 3059

Woman in her Petticoat

Magnus Enckell, 1912

oilExpressionismportraitfigureportraitwomandressletterinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature and how to use it to create form, as well as how to suggest details with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness of a person and conveying a mood.

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 figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: orange for the background, white for the dress, and flesh tones for the skin.
step 03
Begin to refine the shapes and values, paying attention to the light and shadow on the figure.
step 04
Mix and apply the secondary colors for the hair, headband, necklace, and the details on the couch.
step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Develop the folds and shadows in the dress, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and value.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · orange · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the orange background and create shadows in the white dress.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·color temperature
·scumbling
·implied detail

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Using too much white and creating a flat, lifeless effect.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (orange, titanium white, raw umber, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags