plate no. 9397

Portrait of Anna Masheva

Georgi Mashev, 1917

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitwomanhatclothingfacefeather

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practice loose brushwork and color mixing for atmospheric effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Establish the main value areas with a thin wash of color.
step 03
Block in the skin tones, paying attention to subtle color variations.
step 04
Paint the hat and clothing, focusing on the form and texture.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the background with loose brushstrokes and atmospheric effects.
step 07
Add the feather and other small details.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · titanium white · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the hat color by mixing ivory black with raw umber and a hint of blue. The background is a mix of viridian, white, and yellow ochre.

techniques