plate no. 4244

Woman with White Coat

Amedeo Modigliani, 1917

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitwomanfigurehairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing a likeness with simplified forms. It will also encourage experimentation with visible brushstrokes and expressive mark-making.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the elongated neck and facial features.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, warm brown, leaving some areas lighter to create depth.
step 03
Apply a base layer of flesh tones to the face, neck, and hands, using a mix of orange, yellow, and white.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the face and neck, using darker and lighter shades of the flesh tones.
step 05
Paint the hair with a mix of brown and black, using loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Block in the white coat with a mix of white, yellow, and a touch of blue.
step 07
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using thin lines and subtle shading.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a harmonious and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium orange

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix flesh tones by combining yellow ochre, cadmium orange, and titanium white. Use burnt umber and ivory black for the background and hair. Add a touch of ultramarine blue to the white coat for subtle shadows.

techniques