plate no. 7596

Leo Bensemann

Rita Angus, 1938

oilRegionalismportraitportraitfiguremountainslandscapeskyclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and understanding how to simplify complex forms into geometric shapes. It will also teach them how to create depth using color and value changes in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure and the background landscape.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the skin, hair, clothing, and background.
step 03
Mix and apply the base skin tone, gradually adding shadows and highlights.
step 04
Paint the hair using dark blues and blacks, adding subtle highlights to indicate form.
step 05
Block in the colors for the jacket and turtleneck, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Paint the background mountains and sky, using lighter colors for distant peaks.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · black

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and black for the hair. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow. Vary the intensity of colors by adding white or umber.

techniques