plate no. 9460

Hawaiian Woman

Arman Manookian, 1929

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)genre paintingwomanflowersleavesskytreedress

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in simplifying forms and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive image. Students can learn to mix muted tones and create flat areas of color with subtle variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the woman, the tree, the flowers, and the leaves.
step 02
Block in the background sky with light blue, leaving space for the white clouds.
step 03
Paint the woman's skin with a base of brown, adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Fill in the dress with a light beige color, then add the orange flower pattern.
step 05
Paint the tree trunk with a light blue-green, adding subtle shading.
step 06
Add the green leaves, varying the shades slightly.
step 07
Paint the flowers with a mix of pink and white, adding green stems and leaves.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · light blue · brown · beige · green

secondary · orange · white · pink · light blue-green

Mix browns with yellows and reds for the skin tones. Create the light blue-green for the tree by mixing blue, green, and white. Mute the colors by adding a touch of complementary color.

techniques