plate no. 7215
Catechesis
Candido Portinari, 1941
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good opportunity to practice simplifying complex scenes and capturing figures with expressive brushstrokes. Students can learn to create depth and form using a limited color palette and bold mark-making.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and the building.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Define the figures' clothing and facial features with thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes.
- step 04
Add details to the teacher figure, paying attention to the light and shadow on the face.
- step 05
Refine the background building and other elements, keeping them simple and suggestive.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
- step 07
Use dry brushing to create texture in the clothing and hair.
- step 08
Review and adjust the composition, values, and colors as needed.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the cool grays for the clothing. Use umber and white to create the skin tones, adding a touch of red for warmth. Mix red with umber to create darker reds.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·blocking in
- ·simplification
- ·expressive brushstrokes
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to simplify the complex scene.
- →Not paying attention to the overall value structure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·#4 round brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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