plate no. 0778

O Mestiço

Candido Portinari, 1934

oilSocial Realismportraitportraitfigurelandscapeskyfieldbuilding

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering skin tones with subtle variations. It also provides practice in creating depth and perspective in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values of the figure using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 03
Develop the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of brown, ochre, and red.
step 04
Add details to the face, paying attention to the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Paint the background landscape, simplifying the details and focusing on the overall color harmony.
step 06
Refine the details of the figure and background, adding texture and highlights where needed.
step 07
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition and enhance the depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and yellow ochre. Add white to lighten the tones and red or blue to adjust the warmth or coolness.

techniques