plate no. 7820

Portrait of Natasha Gelman

Frida Kahlo, 1943

oil, canvasNaïve Art (Primitivism)portraitportraitwomanfurhairjewelryclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and rendering textures like fur and hair. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

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 and clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark green color.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 04
Begin adding details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the hair, building up layers of color to create volume and texture.
step 06
Paint the fur coat, using short, broken brushstrokes to simulate the texture of the fur.
step 07
Add the jewelry and any other small details.
step 08
Refine the painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · ivory black

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber to create shadows and depth. The fur is a mix of browns, blacks, and greens.

techniques