plate no. 0489

Mother of the Artist

Magnus Enckell, 1904

oilSymbolismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as understanding how to create a sense of depth with a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, focusing on subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Define the features of the face, paying close attention to the eyes and mouth.
step 05
Paint the clothing and background, using loose brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the portrait, such as the hair and jewelry.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of form and volume.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber or ultramarine blue. Use ivory black and burnt umber for the dark clothing, adding small amounts of blue to cool the tone.

techniques