plate no. 6635

Mirri Mustassa Puvussa

Sallinen Tyko, 1911

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurefacehairclothingexpressionism

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice expressive brushstrokes and learn how to simplify facial features while still capturing a likeness. It's also a good exercise in color mixing to achieve skin tones and hair colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hair, and shoulders onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of white and blue, creating a textured effect.
step 03
Establish the overall skin tone with a light base layer, mixing white with a touch of yellow ochre and red.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the face, using slightly darker and lighter versions of the base skin tone, and touches of green and purple.
step 05
Paint the hair with a mix of burnt umber and red, using short, choppy brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Define the clothing with black and dark brown, varying the pressure to create lighter and darker areas.
step 07
Add final details and refine the shapes, paying attention to the expressive brushstrokes and color variations.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish if desired.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · black

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · sap green

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and red. Hair color is created by mixing burnt umber and red. Vary the proportions to create different shades and highlights.

techniques