plate no. 9635
May Day Procession in Moscow
Diego Rivera, 1956
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing, and depicting a large crowd with individual elements. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and distance through color and detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective lines of the procession and buildings.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes of the buildings, sky, and ground with diluted washes of color.
- step 03
Establish the placement of the large blue ball and the rows of flags.
- step 04
Begin adding detail to the buildings, using a limited palette of reds and browns.
- step 05
Paint the flags, varying the colors and angles to create a sense of movement.
- step 06
Add details to the crowd, using small brushstrokes to suggest individual figures.
- step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall harmony.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to create depth and interest.
color palette
primary · red · yellow · blue · white
secondary · green · brown · orange
Mix various shades of red and brown for the buildings. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix greens and oranges for the flags.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →getting lost in the details of the crowd
- →flattening the perspective
- →overworking the colors
- →inconsistent brushstrokes
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (red, yellow, blue, white, brown, green)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·assorted brushes (small round, medium flat)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·color chart
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Thin the oil paints with turpentine for the initial layers and use linseed oil for subsequent layers.
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