plate no. 3605
The Initiate
Irma Stern, 1935
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in capturing skin tones with visible brushstrokes and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. Students will learn to mix colors to create depth and dimension in a portrait.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and main features.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin, neutral color.
- step 03
Establish the main skin tone using a mid-tone mixture.
- step 04
Add darker values to the shadows on the face and neck.
- step 05
Introduce lighter values to the highlights on the face and shoulders.
- step 06
Paint the details of the hair, jewelry, and clothing using visible brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · ivory black
Mix burnt umber and yellow ochre for the base skin tone. Add white to lighten and red/blue to adjust the warmth/coolness. Use black sparingly for shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·color mixing
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Using black to create shadows, making them appear muddy.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin.
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-sized canvas to focus on the portrait. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial blocking-in stage.
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