plate no. 5012

Portrait of a young Mpondo

Irma Stern, 1935

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurepersonjewelryfeatherclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and main features.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of light blue-green, varying the tones slightly.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a mix of browns, yellows, and reds, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the clothing with broad strokes of pink and purple, creating folds and shadows to suggest form.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using smaller brushes and finer strokes.
step 06
Paint the hair and feather, using dark browns and blacks, and adding highlights to create texture.
step 07
Add the jewelry and other accessories, paying attention to their color and detail.
step 08
Refine the painting by adjusting the colors, values, and details as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · sap green

Mix browns and yellows with small amounts of red and blue to create realistic skin tones. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Mix pinks and purples for the clothing by combining red, blue, and white.

techniques