plate no. 4800

Self Portrait with Braid

Frida Kahlo, 1941

oil, masoniteNaïve Art (Primitivism)self-portraitportraitself-portraithairleavesnecklacefigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding composition and layering techniques.

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 face, hair, and leaves.
step 02
Establish the background color with thin washes.
step 03
Block in the main skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the hair, focusing on the texture and form of the braids.
step 05
Add details to the face, including eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Paint the leaves, layering colors to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add the necklace and any other details.
step 08
Refine the painting, adjusting colors and values as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · ivory black

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, and titanium white. Achieve the green hues of the leaves by mixing sap green with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber for shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·color mixing
·rendering

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the face.
→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the leaves.
→Getting the hair braid structure wrong

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, sap green, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags