plate no. 6203

Zanzibar Woman with Chicken

Irma Stern, 1957

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanchickenheadwearafrican

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating expressive brushstrokes to convey emotion and texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure and chicken.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of green and yellow.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a mix of browns, reds, and yellows.
step 04
Define the shadows and highlights on the face and body to create depth.
step 05
Add the details of the headwear and clothing, paying attention to the geometric patterns.
step 06
Paint the chicken, focusing on its texture and color variations.
step 07
Refine the facial features and add subtle details like the earrings and facial markings.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · ivory black · cadmium yellow

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and cadmium red with varying amounts of titanium white. Use sap green and cadmium yellow to create the background. Mix ivory black with other colors to create darker shades.

techniques