plate no. 1864

Fresco Vendor, Port Au Prince, Haiti

Beauford Delaney, 1964

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingsfiguresstreet scenevendorskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, capturing light and shadow, and simplifying complex scenes into expressive shapes. It also encourages experimentation with loose brushwork and expressive linework.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of buildings and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, buildings, and ground, using diluted washes.
step 03
Add darker values to define shadows and create depth, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Introduce brighter colors for the buildings and figures, layering and blending as needed.
step 05
Refine the details of the buildings, such as windows and doors, using a smaller brush.
step 06
Add details to the figures, including clothing and facial features, using expressive brushstrokes.
step 07
Use a fine brush or pen to add linework for definition and emphasis.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · orange · blue · yellow · green

secondary · brown · white · black · red

Achieve the vibrant colors by mixing primary colors with white for tints and black or brown for shades. The muted tones are achieved by mixing complementary colors.

techniques