plate no. 7899
Fernanda de Castro
Anita Malfatti, 1922
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice portrait painting, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides experience with simplified backgrounds and focusing on the subject.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, skin, dress, and hair.
- step 03
Start building up the skin tones with layers of color, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Define the features of the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Add details to the dress and chair, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Refine the background, blending colors and adding subtle variations.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
- step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · viridian green · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, with small amounts of red and blue for variations. Achieve the green of the dress by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and white.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·color mixing
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·yellow ochre
- ·viridian green
- ·titanium white
- ·burnt sienna
- ·ultramarine blue
- ·cadmium red light
- ·assorted brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (for oils)
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Acrylics are more beginner friendly.
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