plate no. 3562

Frida Kahlo

Andrey Allakhverdov, 2017

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurespaintingartistclothingjewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. Students will also learn to balance a complex composition with multiple focal points.

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 placement of the figures, easel, and background portrait.
step 02
Establish the background colors, focusing on the teal and variations in the easel and portrait.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures' clothing, hair, and skin tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow on the faces.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the polka dots on the girl's dress and the lace trim.
step 06
Develop the texture of the brushstrokes, using thicker paint and visible strokes.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · teal · pink · green · brown

secondary · red · yellow · blue · orange

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Achieve the teal background by mixing blue and green with a touch of white.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·visible brushstrokes
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Not paying enough attention to the light and shadow on the faces.
→Using colors that are too saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, viridian green
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags