plate no. 0801

Fixing her Hair (Ruby Elzy in “Porgy and Bess”1935)

Serge Sudeikin, 1935

oil, panelExpressionismportraitportraitfigurehandsfacehairexpression

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing expressive gestures. It also encourages observation of light and shadow to define form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, mixing different shades of brown, red, and yellow.
step 04
Pay close attention to the light and shadow on the face and hands to create depth.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth to capture the subject's expression.
step 06
Develop the background with loose brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, ensuring a cohesive composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, and white. Use ultramarine blue to cool down shadows. Yellow ochre can be added for highlights.

techniques

·color mixing
·portraiture
·blocking in
·chiaroscuro
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Ignoring the underlying value structure.
→Focusing too much on details before establishing the overall form.
→Failing to capture the subject's expression.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits