plate no. 7730

Two Sisters

Zhang Xiaogang, 2003

oilMagic Realismportraitportraitsfiguresgirlsuniformsfaceshair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating smooth gradients. It also provides practice in capturing subtle emotional expressions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the two figures.
step 02
Block in the background with a diluted blue-gray color.
step 03
Establish the main value ranges on the faces, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Mix the pinkish-red hue for the figure on the left and apply it smoothly.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Paint the hair and uniforms, using darker values to create depth.
step 07
Add the butterfly-shaped patches with a textured brushstroke.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · ivory black

secondary · raw umber · yellow ochre

Mix the skin tones by blending white, crimson, umber, and a touch of blue. The pinkish hue is achieved by adding more crimson. The background is a mix of blue, white, and a touch of black.

techniques