plate no. 3578
Woman with guitar
Louis Valtat, 1906
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand broken color techniques and how to create form with short, directional brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into manageable shapes and color blocks.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes: the figure, the main plants, and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall color temperature of each area.
- step 03
Begin adding smaller brushstrokes of color to build up the form and texture of the plants and figure.
- step 04
Use short, directional brushstrokes to create the impression of foliage and texture.
- step 05
Pay attention to the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Refine the details of the figure, such as the face and clothing.
- step 07
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.
- step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting.
color palette
primary · viridian green · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow
Mix greens by combining viridian green with cadmium yellow and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix browns by combining burnt sienna with ultramarine blue.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·directional brushstrokes
- ·color mixing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Using too much detail and losing the overall impressionistic effect.
- →Not paying attention to the color temperature of different areas.
- →Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the palette.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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