plate no. 4251

Self Portrait with Monkey

Frida Kahlo, 1940

oil, masoniteNaïve Art (Primitivism)self-portraitportraitfigureleavesmonkeyribbonfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through layering and subtle value changes. Students will also learn to render textures and patterns, such as the fabric of the dress and the fur of the monkey.

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, monkey, and leaves.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the background leaves, using darker tones for shadows.
step 03
Establish the skin tones of the face and neck, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the red ribbon, capturing its folds and highlights.
step 05
Render the monkey's fur, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the dress, including the pattern and texture.
step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · raw umber · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white, adding small amounts of red for warmth and umber for shadows. Mix greens for the leaves by combining yellow ochre, viridian green, and raw umber.

techniques