plate no. 7412
Young Xhosa woman
Irma Stern, 1941
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in portraiture with expressive brushstrokes and simplified forms. Students can develop their understanding of color temperature and how to represent light and shadow with bold strokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure and background, focusing on proportions and composition.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas for the skin, clothing, headwear, and landscape.
- step 03
Begin layering colors within each area, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
- step 04
Pay attention to the light source and build up highlights and shadows to define the form.
- step 05
Mix colors directly on the canvas to achieve a textured and expressive effect.
- step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using smaller brushes.
- step 07
Refine the background landscape with varied colors and brushstrokes to create depth.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall impression.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · purple · green · raw umber
Mix burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the skin tones, adding white for highlights and ultramarine blue for shadows. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create the black color. Mix greens and purples for the landscape.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·color mixing
- ·expressive brushwork
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Neglecting the underlying sketch and losing the initial proportions.
- →Being too timid with brushstrokes, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
- →Ignoring the color temperature and creating a monotonous palette.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette knife
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
- ·mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and drying time of the paints.
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