plate no. 9053

Portrait of seated brunette

Rafael Zabaleta, 1948

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfiguredresschairlandscapemountain

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting helps develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. Students can learn to simplify forms and capture a likeness while experimenting with expressive color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, dress, background.
step 03
Develop the background landscape with layers of color and texture.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the dress, such as the white trim and folds.
step 06
Define the chair and the figure's hands.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · cerulean blue

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, white, and a touch of red. Achieve the blue of the dress by mixing ultramarine blue with white. Create the landscape colors by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, green, and red.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brush texture
·color mixing
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→over-blending the colors
→getting the proportions wrong
→making the skin tones too flat
→ignoring the background details

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium red, sap green)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits