plate no. 8449

Portrait de Meret Oppenheim

Leonor Fini, 1938

oilMagic Realismportraitfigureportraitchairhairclothingseated

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice figure drawing, color mixing with a limited palette, and creating depth through subtle value changes. Students will also learn to suggest forms with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic figure proportions and pose lightly on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the background, figure, and chair with thinned paint.
step 03
Establish the main value ranges for the skin tones, clothing, and hair.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the background with subtle variations in color and texture.
step 07
Indicate the chair with loose lines and shadows.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and white. Use raw umber and black to create shadows and darker areas of clothing and hair. The background is primarily burnt sienna with subtle variations achieved by adding small amounts of other colors.

techniques