plate no. 6852

Ethnography

David Alfaro Siqueiros, 1939

pyroxylinSurrealismportraitfigureportraitmaskhatclothinghands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, value studies, and creating a sense of depth through subtle color variations. It also offers practice in rendering fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and hands.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow using a mid-tone wash.
step 03
Begin building up darker values in the background and on the figure's face and hands.
step 04
Introduce lighter values to define the highlights on the hat, clothing, and face.
step 05
Refine the details of the mask, paying close attention to the shapes and shadows.
step 06
Work on the folds and drapery of the clothing, creating a sense of volume.
step 07
Add subtle color variations to the skin tones and clothing to create depth.
step 08
Finalize the details and adjust values as needed to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white

Mix raw umber and yellow ochre for the base skin tones. Add ivory black to create shadows and titanium white to create highlights. Burnt sienna can be used to warm up the skin tones.

techniques