plate no. 7032
Auto-Retrato Como Marinheiro (Auto-vida)
Jose Pancetti, 1945
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color blocking, and creating form with distinct planes of color. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex subjects into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and book.
- step 02
Divide the face and body into distinct planes, mapping out areas of light and shadow.
- step 03
Block in the background with flat areas of color.
- step 04
Begin painting the face, using distinct color blocks to define the planes.
- step 05
Paint the sailor's uniform, focusing on the dark navy color and the details of the stripes.
- step 06
Add details to the hat, including the lettering and the shape of the brim.
- step 07
Paint the book, paying attention to the cover design and the hand holding it.
- step 08
Refine the edges and add any final details.
color palette
primary · navy blue · flesh tones (various) · red
secondary · white · gray · brown
Mix flesh tones by combining red, yellow, white, and a touch of blue. Create the navy blue by mixing ultramarine blue with burnt umber or black.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·planar analysis
- ·limited palette
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, losing the distinct planes.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Making the colors too saturated or bright.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in value within each color block.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·Acrylic or oil paints (navy blue, red, white, yellow, brown, black)
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
optional
- ·Medium (for oil paints)
- ·Easel
- ·Varnish
Using a canvas with a medium texture will help to create a similar feel to the original painting.
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