plate no. 8153

MUJER RUBIA

Maruja Mallo, 1951

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurehairprofilefaceneck

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing the likeness and form of the face and hair, and in creating smooth gradations of tone to model the figure.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and neck on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, background, and clothing.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the hair, creating the individual strands and highlights.
step 06
Refine the background and clothing.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the entire painting.
step 08
Varnish the painting when dry.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix burnt umber and white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of blue, yellow ochre, and alizarin crimson to create subtle variations. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow light mixed with white for the highlights in the hair.

techniques