plate no. 8250

Miss Broeksma

Maggie Laubser, 1958

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothinghairjewelry

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

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 and proportions of the head, shoulders, and key features.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of blues and grays, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a limited palette, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the hair, paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to suggest form and texture.
step 05
Add the red shirt and white jacket, noting the subtle color variations and folds.
step 06
Paint the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, refining the likeness.
step 07
Add the pearl necklace, capturing the highlights and shadows on each pearl.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a cohesive image.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. Use blue and black to create cooler shadows. Achieve the red shirt by mixing cadmium red with a touch of umber for depth.

techniques

·blocking in
·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face, leading to an inaccurate likeness.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a harsh, unnatural look.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the clothing and background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, cadmium red, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife