How to Paint
Four Girls by August Macke
Difficulty: 4.5/5
Colours: Chromium oxide/green, white, ultramarine, cadmium yellow, red
Brushes: Medium flat brush, small round brush
About this piece
Previously we attempted Promenade by August Macke, which focused on creating curves to get the right look. In this painting of Four Girls, it needed a lot more attention to detail (and patience!). Part of the fun was also figuring out what some of the seemingly random cubist shapes were – was it the dress? A plant? Or just …shapes?
Most of colours in this piece are vibrant, particularly the girls’ dresses and hair, which make them stand out from the darker background (darker shades recede, while brighter ones ‘float’ to the top). There is a lot of layering involved to build depth in the surrounding foliage – if you look closely there are bits of orange, ochres, yellows and blues sprinkled across the piece.
Making it your own
While the original can be technically demanding, this piece is ripe for reinterpretation! I’ve gone with a blend of Matisse and Miró-inspired elements, transforming it into a page out of a children’s storybook. The idea was that the four girls were sharing bedtime stories, which were coming to life in their collective imagination.
