plate no. 1381

MRS M D SEKOTO THE ARTIST

Gerard Sekoto, 1947

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanhatfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and understanding light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying emotion through facial expression.

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 head, shoulders, and hat.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin layer of red.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and neck using a base skin tone.
step 04
Mix and apply darker tones to define the shadows on the face, particularly on the side away from the light.
step 05
Add highlights to the face, focusing on the forehead, nose, and cheekbones.
step 06
Paint the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to their shapes and placement.
step 07
Add the details of the clothing, using small brushstrokes to create the pattern.
step 08
Refine the edges and details of the painting, making sure the proportions and values are accurate.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · titanium white · black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Shadows are created by adding burnt umber and a touch of black to the skin tone mix. Highlights are created by adding titanium white.

techniques