plate no. 4814

The Shepherdess

Vela Zanetti, 1975

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguregoatshawlclothinganimal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and expression, and in rendering textures using visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a warm, limited color palette.

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 proportions of the figure, goat, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the background with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure and goat, focusing on shadows and highlights.
step 04
Begin building up layers of color, using visible brushstrokes to define form and texture.
step 05
Pay close attention to the details of the face, capturing the expression and likeness.
step 06
Add details to the shawl and clothing, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the details of the goat, paying attention to the fur and facial features.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white

Achieve the warm tones by mixing burnt umber and raw sienna. Use ivory black sparingly to create shadows. Lighten colors with titanium white and small amounts of yellow ochre for highlights.

techniques