plate no. 0899

Banda Woman with a Child

Alexandre Jacovleff, 1926

oilExpressionismgenre paintingmotherchildfigureportraitculturalbaby

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure drawing, and creating subtle value gradations to model form. It also provides practice in depicting skin tones and rendering fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the mother and child, focusing on accurate placement and size relationships.
step 02
Lightly block in the background shapes and the simplified figures.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the figures with thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones, layering colors to create depth and warmth.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle nuances of light and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the fabric and jewelry, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Work on the background, adding the simplified figures and patterns.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors, ensuring a harmonious overall composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · cadmium red light

Achieve the skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white in varying proportions. Add small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and ivory black for cooler shadows.

techniques