plate no. 5161

The President and First Lady (2)

Fernando Botero, 1989

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)portraitfigurehorseleavesportraitdressfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified form rendering, color mixing for skin tones and fabric, and creating a sense of volume through subtle shading. The painting also offers a good opportunity to practice painting rounded shapes and smooth gradients.

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: the figure, horse, and background leaves, focusing on proportions and overall composition.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the pink dress, brown horse, green leaves, and blue sky.
step 03
Begin to refine the shapes and add details to the figure, such as the face, hands, and clothing folds.
step 04
Develop the horse's form, paying attention to the rounded shapes and subtle shading.
step 05
Add details to the background leaves, varying the greens and creating depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the face and clothing, adding highlights and shadows to create volume.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the jewelry, flower, and reins.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the colors, values, and details.

color palette

primary · rose pink · brown · green · sky blue

secondary · yellow · orange · white · black

Mix various shades of pink by combining red, white, and a touch of yellow. Create different greens by mixing blue and yellow, adding brown or black to darken. Achieve skin tones by blending red, yellow, white, and a touch of brown.

techniques