plate no. 1654

Congolese Beauty

Irma Stern, 1946

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureheadscarfdresswomanfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing light and shadow with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting fabric patterns and textures.

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 figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Block in the background with a light green wash, varying the tones slightly.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a mix of browns, reds, and yellows, paying attention to the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Paint the headscarf using red as the dominant color, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Begin to define the details of the dress, using a combination of dark and light colors to create the pattern.
step 06
Add the gold necklace and other small details, such as the eyes and lips.
step 07
Refine the brushstrokes and add texture to the painting, using thicker paint in some areas.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and white. Use viridian green and yellow ochre to create the background. Mix black with other colors to create shadows.

techniques