plate no. 1298

Girl with Death Mask (She Plays Alone)

Frida Kahlo, 1938

oil, metalNaïve Art (Primitivism)symbolic paintingfiguremaskflowerskymountainsground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering techniques to create depth and atmospheric perspective, as well as rendering simple figures and objects with expressive brushstrokes. Students will also learn to mix muted colors and create a cohesive color scheme.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, mask, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, ground, mountains, dress, and masks.
step 03
Begin layering the sky with varying shades of blue, gray, and white, using soft, blended brushstrokes.
step 04
Develop the ground with layers of brown, ochre, and gray, adding texture with visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the mountains with muted blues and grays, suggesting distance with lighter values.
step 06
Refine the figure and masks, paying attention to the details of the masks and the folds of the dress.
step 07
Add the flower, using bright yellows and greens to create a focal point.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and expressive painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · payne's gray

Mix muted blues and grays for the sky and mountains by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and titanium white. Achieve the pink of the dress by mixing cadmium red with titanium white and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Creating colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the overall mood.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and distance in the background.
→Inaccurately rendering the proportions of the figure.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium red, yellow ochre, raw sienna, payne's gray)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife