plate no. 4674

Navio Negreiro

Candido Portinari, 1950

oilExpressionismhistory paintingshipfiguresdeckropeshistoricalslaves

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to create depth using value and how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes. It also provides practice in rendering figures in a stylized manner.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the ship's deck and the surrounding structure, focusing on perspective.
step 02
Establish the grid-like pattern of the deck using light pencil lines.
step 03
Block in the large areas of dark and light values with thinned paint.
step 04
Begin adding details to the figures, simplifying their forms.
step 05
Develop the texture of the 'cargo' on the deck using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the ropes and rigging with thin lines, varying their thickness and value.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · raw umber

secondary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the warm tones of the deck. Use raw umber and black for the darker areas. Add white to create highlights and variations in value.

techniques