plate no. 6493

Me and My Doll

Frida Kahlo, 1937

oil, metalNaïve Art (Primitivism)self-portraitfiguredollportraitdressroomfurniture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through subtle shading. It also offers practice in rendering fabric and simple textures.

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 proportions of the figure, doll, and furniture.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: background, dress, skin tones, and floor.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the dress, including folds and the white trim.
step 05
Add details to the doll, focusing on its facial features and limbs.
step 06
Refine the background and floor, adding texture and subtle variations in color.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figure and doll.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · titanium white · viridian green · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white, adding small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and ivory black for shadows. Mix viridian green with white and yellow ochre for the dress, and use burnt sienna and cadmium red for the floor tiles.

techniques