plate no. 5727

Ritratto di Mafai

Antonietta Raphael, 1928

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigureartistinteriorcurtainstatue

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, capturing likeness and expression, and using expressive brushwork to create texture and depth. It also encourages exploration of a limited color palette to create a cohesive mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and major elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and larger shapes.
step 03
Develop the skin tones, using a limited palette and focusing on subtle variations in value.
step 04
Add details to the face, paying close attention to the eyes and mouth to capture the likeness.
step 05
Define the clothing and drapery, using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 06
Add details to the drawing the artist is working on.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details, such as the statue in the window.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and expressive painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the browns and create shadows. Mix yellow ochre with white for highlights.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·limited palette
·portraiture
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·burnt umber oil paint
·raw sienna oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·alizarin crimson oil paint
·#4 round brush
·#8 flat brush
·palette

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·medium gloss

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for expressive brushwork. Consider using a limited palette of oil paints to create a cohesive color scheme.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein