plate no. 8003
Nyassa
Georg Tappert, 1929
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with pastels to create subtle variations in skin tone and clothing, as well as capturing the likeness of a subject with expressive lines.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 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 using light brown and grey pastels.
- step 03
Begin layering colors on the face, using pinks, browns, and yellows to build up the skin tones.
- step 04
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, using darker browns and blacks for definition.
- step 05
Work on the clothing, using similar layering techniques to create depth and texture.
- step 06
Develop the background with loose, gestural strokes of pink, grey, and white.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · rose madder
secondary · payne's grey · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Mix browns and pinks with white to create lighter skin tones. Use grey and blue sparingly to create shadows and depth.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·hatching
- ·scumbling
- ·expressive linework
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Getting proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Using too much dark color too early.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
materials
surface · drawing paper (toned or white)
required
- ·pastel set (soft or hard)
- ·drawing paper (toned or white)
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·fixative spray
- ·pencil (2B or softer)
- ·paper towels
- ·blending stumps
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·workable fixative
Choose a pastel set with a range of earth tones and skin tones. Toned paper can help to create a more unified and harmonious color scheme.
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