plate no. 6280

Dora Rainha do Frevo

Anita Malfatti, 1934

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguredresshairfacebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle color variations.

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 on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a light blue, creating a soft halo effect.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red.
step 04
Begin to define the features of the face, paying attention to the subtle shadows and highlights.
step 05
Paint the dress with a light off-white, adding subtle folds and highlights to create volume.
step 06
Work on the hair, using dark browns and blacks to create texture and depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the face and dress, adding small touches of color and highlights.
step 08
Add final touches to the background, softening the edges and blending the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Vary the proportions to create different shades and highlights. The dress is a mix of white with a touch of yellow ochre and blue.

techniques