plate no. 7992

Face of the Past

Nina Tokhtaman Valetova, 2013

oil, canvasMagic Realismportraitportraitfaceabstractgeometricfigureperson

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color blocking and understanding how to create form using flat planes of color. It also encourages careful observation of light and shadow to define facial features in an abstract way.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the face and the major geometric shapes.
step 02
Divide the face and background into distinct color zones based on the original painting.
step 03
Begin by painting the largest color areas, working from light to dark or vice versa.
step 04
Carefully fill in each section with the appropriate color, ensuring clean edges.
step 05
Mix colors precisely to match the original painting's palette.
step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the color blocks to define the facial features.
step 07
Add final details to the eyes and other key areas.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish for protection.

color palette

primary · red · orange · yellow · green

secondary · brown · dark brown

Achieve the various shades of red, orange, and yellow by mixing primary colors. Use white to lighten and black or burnt umber to darken the colors. Mix browns by combining red, yellow, and blue.

techniques