plate no. 7203

Woman with Fruit

Alexander Bogen, 1957

oilExpressionismportraitfigureportraitwomanfruitdressshawl

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and simplified form representation. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a subject rather than precise detail.

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 figure and the fruit bowl.
step 02
Block in the background with light blue, varying the tone slightly.
step 03
Apply the dark brown for the hair, using thick, visible brushstrokes.
step 04
Paint the white dress and shawl, using off-white and light gray to create form.
step 05
Add the colors of the fruit, focusing on the general shapes and hues.
step 06
Refine the facial features with simple shapes and colors.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and add final details.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the background and highlights on the dress. Use red and yellow for the fruit, and mix blue and yellow for greens.

techniques