plate no. 6286

Sun and Life

Frida Kahlo, 1947

oil, masoniteNaïve Art (Primitivism)symbolic paintingflowerssunfaceleavesembryosymbolic

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and form, as well as understanding symbolic representation in art. Students will also learn to render organic shapes and textures with subtle shading.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the flowers, leaves, and the sun with light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the flowers and leaves, paying attention to the light and shadow areas.
step 04
Begin layering colors to define the forms of the flowers and leaves, blending edges where necessary.
step 05
Paint the sun with its concentric circles, carefully blending the colors.
step 06
Add the details of the face on the sun, including the third eye and teardrop.
step 07
Paint the details inside the flowers, including the stamens and the embryo in one of the flowers.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium red · olive green

secondary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Achieve the muted tones by mixing primary colors with white and small amounts of complementary colors. Use thin glazes of color to build up depth and luminosity.

techniques