plate no. 7140

Labourers

Alberto Sughi, 1952

oilRealismgenre paintingfiguresmenbuildinglandscapeclothingtools

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure painting, and capturing realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and the building, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the background, building, and figures using thin washes.
step 03
Start developing the skin tones by layering different shades of browns, yellows, and reds.
step 04
Add details to the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 05
Refine the facial features and expressions of the figures.
step 06
Add details to the tools and other objects in the foreground.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by combining yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white. Use raw umber and black to create shadows. Add small amounts of blue to cool down certain areas.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and making them look muddy.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figures.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background.
→Making the shadows too dark and losing detail.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, ivory black, burnt sienna)
·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·flat brushes (#6, #8)
·linseed oil
·palette
·palette knife
·odorless mineral spirits