plate no. 7029
Nabweya
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practice painting fabric and patterns.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and pillows.
- step 02
Establish the background and overall color scheme with thin washes.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, dress, and pillows.
- step 04
Begin refining the shapes and values of the face, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 05
Develop the details of the dress pattern, using small brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Paint the jewelry and other accessories.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and details.
color palette
primary · ivory · burnt umber · cadmium red · turquoise
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue
Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, ivory, and small amounts of cadmium red. Create the dress pattern by mixing various shades of red, green, and blue with ivory.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·color mixing
- ·fabric rendering
- ·pattern painting
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Making the skin tones look muddy or unnatural.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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