plate no. 5399

Edsel B. Ford

Diego Rivera, 1932

oil, canvasSocial Realismportraitportraitfigurecardrawingsuitdesk

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for realistic skin tones, and creating the illusion of depth through layering and subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering textures, such as the fabric of the suit.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: skin tones, suit, background, and desk.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows to create form.
step 04
Develop the details of the suit, including the texture of the fabric and the folds.
step 05
Refine the background, adding details to the car drawing and the surrounding space.
step 06
Add details to the desk and the drafting tools.
step 07
Adjust values and colors throughout the painting to create a cohesive and realistic image.
step 08
Add final highlights and details.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · purple

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, raw umber, and burnt sienna, with small amounts of yellow ochre and ultramarine blue for subtle variations. The suit is primarily a mix of white and black, with touches of raw umber to create the gray tone.

techniques