plate no. 7326
Two Women
Frida Kahlo, 1929
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and creating depth through layering. It also offers practice in rendering detailed foliage and subtle facial features.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and background.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, and foliage.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones with subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Add details to the clothing, such as the ruffles and folds.
- step 05
Develop the background foliage by layering different shades of green.
- step 06
Paint the butterflies and oranges.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to the figures and background.
- step 08
Varnish the painting for protection and to enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · sap green · titanium white
secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · raw sienna
Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, white, and a touch of burnt umber. Create the various greens by mixing sap green with different amounts of yellow and blue.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·portraiture
- ·rendering foliage
common pitfalls
- →over-blending skin tones
- →making the foliage too uniform
- →getting the proportions of the figures wrong
- →using colors straight from the tube without mixing
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 inches) is recommended for beginners.
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