plate no. 8410

Woman With Blue Hat

Kees van Dongen, 1912

oilFauvismportraitportraitwomanhatflowerclothingfigure

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in color mixing and layering to achieve depth and form, as well as capturing a likeness with expressive brushstrokes. Students will learn to simplify complex shapes and focus on key areas of contrast.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes.
step 03
Develop the background with variations of red and brown.
step 04
Layer the blue tones in the hat and clothing, building up depth.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to define the form of the face and hands.
step 06
Paint the flower with vibrant orange and red tones.
step 07
Refine the details and add final touches of color.
step 08
Adjust values and edges to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Cadmium Red · Titanium White

secondary · Burnt Umber · Yellow Ochre · Ivory Black

Mix blues with black and umber for darker shades, and with white for lighter highlights. Use red and yellow to create the orange for the flower. Add small amounts of green to the face to create shadows.

techniques

·Impasto
·Color layering
·Broken color
·Scumbling
·Expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors
→Losing the vibrancy of the blues and reds
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Cadmium Red, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Ivory Black)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags