plate no. 1700

Woman in Street

Louisa Matthiasdottir, 1980

oilExpressionismgenre paintingstreetbuildingsfigurecarsmountainssea

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using color to define form and space. It also provides practice in capturing a sense of movement and atmosphere with loose brushstrokes.

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 of the buildings, mountains, sea, figure, and cars, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, sea, mountains, and buildings using thin washes.
step 03
Add the darker values to define the shadows and create depth in the buildings and mountains.
step 04
Paint the figure with simplified shapes and colors, paying attention to the direction of light and shadow.
step 05
Add the cars, using simplified shapes and colors to suggest their forms.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, figure, and cars, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · titanium white · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky and sea. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm tones for the buildings and figure. Mix greens from blue and yellow.

techniques

·blocking in
·color mixing
·loose brushwork
·simplification of forms
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to simplify the forms and creating a cluttered composition.
→Using colors that are too saturated and creating a jarring effect.
→Ignoring the direction of light and shadow and creating a flat, lifeless painting.