plate no. 0105

Dama Con Papagayo

José Santiago Garnelo y Alda, 1930

oilNaturalismportraitfigureparrotfruitdraperyportraitjewelry

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practice painting complex drapery and textures using layering and glazing techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the parrot.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the dark background to create contrast.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the figures, starting with the skin tones and then moving to the drapery.
step 05
Pay close attention to the light and shadow on the faces and bodies to create form.
step 06
Add details to the fruit, jewelry, and parrot, using smaller brushes.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend colors as needed to create a smooth transition.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white, with small amounts of burnt umber for shadows. Use ultramarine blue and viridian green to create the parrot's feathers.

techniques

·layering
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, viridian green, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat, various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags