plate no. 7308

Woman with Blue Eyes

Kees van Dongen, 1908

oilFauvismportraitportraitwomanfaceeyesmakeupred background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice bold brushstrokes and color mixing to achieve skin tones and vibrant colors. It also offers a good exercise in capturing likeness and expression with simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the face, eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a solid layer of red paint.
step 03
Apply a base layer of yellow and white mixture for the skin, leaving areas for shadows and highlights.
step 04
Mix and apply the blue eyeshadow, paying attention to the shape and intensity of the color.
step 05
Add the red for the lips, using a darker shade for the corners and a lighter shade for the highlights.
step 06
Define the eyebrows and eyelashes with black or dark brown paint.
step 07
Add touches of green and red to the face for subtle color variations.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · burnt sienna

Mix yellow ochre and white for the base skin tone. Add small amounts of red or green to create shadows and highlights. Mix blue and white for lighter shades of eyeshadow.

techniques