plate no. 6944

My Memory Nr. 1

Zhang Xiaogang, 2002

oilMagic Realismportraitportraitfigurechildfacepatchsurreal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing, blending, and creating smooth gradients, as well as understanding the importance of accurate proportions in portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic outline of the head and facial features, paying close attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a light blue, ensuring even coverage.
step 03
Mix the skin tones using white, a touch of red, and a hint of blue, and apply to the face, building up layers of light and shadow.
step 04
Define the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with darker values of the skin tone mixture.
step 05
Paint the hair using a muted purple/gray, blending it softly into the forehead.
step 06
Add the bandage using a mix of orange and brown, and define its edges.
step 07
Carefully add the thin red lines connecting to the neck and shoulder.
step 08
Refine the details and blend the edges to create a smooth, realistic finish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · light blue · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white with small amounts of red, blue and raw umber. The background blue is a light, muted shade. The hair color is created by mixing raw umber with a touch of red and blue.

techniques