plate no. 0335

Young woman

George Pemba, 1947

oilExpressionismportraitfigureportraitwomanheadwrapjewelryinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the local colors of the skin, clothing, and background.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of brown, red, and yellow.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Paint the jewelry and headwrap, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add final touches and details to the background and foreground.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and expressive painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones using burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and white. Use white and yellow ochre to create the lighter tones in the clothing. Mix burnt umber with ivory black to create the darker shadows.

techniques

·blocking in
·layering
·blending
·dry brushing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat, uninteresting painting.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin and clothing.