plate no. 3215

The old woman and the girl

Rafael Zabaleta, 1957

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguresgrandmothergirlinteriorwindow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive color mixing and bold, visible brushstrokes to convey emotion and form. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into geometric shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color with thin washes, establishing the overall color scheme.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint, defining the forms with bolder brushstrokes.
step 04
Mix and apply the unique skin tones, using greens, yellows, and blues.
step 05
Add details to the faces, paying attention to the expressive features.
step 06
Define the outlines of the shapes with dark lines to create contrast and separation.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · yellow · blue · brown · green

secondary · pink · white · black

Achieve the unique skin tones by mixing yellow with small amounts of green, blue, and brown. Create the various shades of brown and green by mixing the primary colors.

techniques