plate no. 2147

Forgotten Man

Maynard Dixon, 1944

oilSocial Realismgenre paintingfigurestreetcityscapepeoplesidewalkshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a realistic style and understanding how light and shadow create depth and form. The painting also offers a good opportunity to practice color mixing to achieve subtle variations in skin tones and clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the surrounding elements.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure.
step 04
Refine the details of the figure, paying attention to the proportions and anatomy.
step 05
Add the details of the clothing and the surrounding environment.
step 06
Create smooth transitions between values using blending techniques.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Finalize the painting by adding any necessary details and adjusting the colors as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Mix different proportions of raw umber, ultramarine blue, and titanium white to create the various shades of gray and brown. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to add warmth to the skin tones and clothing.

techniques